Residents stop clearing of Mandaue fire site

THE start of the clearing operations of the fire site in Barangays Guizo and Mantuyong in Mandaue City in preparation for the reblocking of the area was canceled after some of the fire victims blocked the city’s demolition team that was tasked to do the clearing yesterday.

The team from the City Engineering Office and Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO) backed off after tension rose between them and the residents opposed to the reblocking.

Jesus Neri, Guizo barangay captain, said some of the residents were worried that after the reblocking they would not be able to rebuild their houses in the area while others were concerned about ending up with a small space on which to build their house.

The demolition team would have cleared the structures left standing after a huge fire in March, such as concrete walls and houses which were not razed by the fire.

Roger Paller, Mandaue City public information officer, said they already expected some residents to oppose the reblocking of the area.

Paller said the city government, through HUDO, will continue conducting social preparation and educating the residents regarding the advantage of having the site reblocked.

He did not say when they can start clearing the area for the reblocking.

He also claimed that majority of the fire victims were for the reblocking.

Only a certain group opposes it, he added.

Gina Arnella, 36, who was born and raised in Barangay Guizo, is among those in favor of the reblocking of the area.

“Giingnan man mi makabalik mi. Okay ra man sad mi sa reblocking basta makabalik lang og makatukod sa among panimalay (They told us that we can return to the area and we’re okay with the reblocking as long as we can rebuild our house there),” Arnella said

Paller said after the reblocking of the fire site, a 6.5-meter-wide, two-lane road will be opened.