Carreta demolition postponed to November 30

At least 78 families occupying a private lot in  barangay Carreta yesterday breathed a sigh of relief after they were allowed to stay for another month.

The landowner agreed to postpone to November 30 the demolition of 32 structures on its property in sitio Panaghiusa.

A court sheriff went to the area yesterday to serve a demolition order, but Vice Mayor Edgar Labella arrived and told him that  he has asked the court to defer the demolition.

The writ of demolition, issued by Judge Francisco Seville of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) was to be implemented on October 20 to 23.

It stemmed from the case for unlawful detainer filed by Anselma Amahan and others against Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co.

Labella, however, identified the property owner as Landtraders World Properties Corp.

He said he  asked representatives to allow the settlers to stay until after Christmas.

“Our meeting lasted two hours because our request for postponement still had to be presented to the board. We waited while the board met,” he told reporters.

Landtraders eventually agreed to a date of  November 30. The company will provide  a truck to transport those who  voluntarily tear down their houses.

In his motion filed in court, Labella asked to postpone the demolition until the end of the school year in March 2016.

Residents  asked him to intercede  so the local government can provide a relocation site as mandated in the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA).

As of yesterday, Labella stated in his motion that the Cebu City government has “no available site” for relocation. But he told reporters they were looking at barangay Talamban.

He also said the Department of the Welfare of the Urban Poor has submitted a schedule of activities for the inclusion of the 78 families in the city’s socialized housing program. This would take more than 2 years.

“I would also ask the mayor that we will give financial assistance because they will be displaced,” Labella said.