Theme park to displace 200 Pakna-an families

A 5-hectare property in barangay Pakna-an, Mandaue City is envisioned to be developed into a theme park, displacing at least 200 families who  occupy the area.

The affected families, most of whom depend on  mangroves in the property for broom making, have asked the city government to help provide them with a relocation site.

Part of the 5-hectare property is being leased by the city government for its Materials Recovery Facility for sorting trash. The property is within Zone Sibuyas, which lies to the east of Cansaga Bridge.

Mario Cabahug, representative of the Cabahug heirs who hold the tax declaration for the lot, said in a telephone interview that the lot will be developed into a theme park.

Cabahug said the mangrove area will be developed into a mangrove trail. Other planned attractions are a seaside restaurant, cottages, fishing lagoon, sports and function areas. He said it would be  like “a little Disneyland.”

The Cabahug heirs  asked barangay captain Melquias Soco to advise the informal settlers to vacate the area as soon as possible.

Soco told the settlers that the owner would  use the lot for the development of an international port. Most of the affected families make brooms for a livelihood.

Soco, in an interview, said he did ask the residents to leave, but denied that he pressured them.

“I already coordinated with HUDO (Housing and Urban Development Office) so they can have a place to relocate and told  them how to be a lot beneficiary,” Soco said in Cebuano.

Soco said he talked to HUDO officer Tonypet Juanico who said the affected families may be accommodated at a 6.5- hectare relocation site also in Pakna-an.

Landowner Cabahug, who learned of this development, was hopeful that the city government would help relocate the affected families.

“I know that Mandaue City has been awarded with the 2015 Best LGU Practices Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicate and hopefully they would continue this effort,” said Cabahug.

Some of the residents, who have lived in the area for 30 years, said they thought the owner of the lot was Cesar Cabahug.

Mario Cabahug said Cesar was his uncle. His father Alfredo and Cesar were brothers. Cesar was the father of former Mandaue City councilor Raul “Pokang” Cabahug.

Mario is an uncle of former Mandaue City administrator Briccio Boholst.

The Cabahug family acquired the 5-hectare land in the 1940s as indicated in a deed of sale and a tax declaration. The Mandaue City government issued a revised tax declaration certificate after the latest assessment in October of this year.