ACTING Cebu City Mayor Margot Osmeña yesterday issued a memorandum ordering the suspension of all pending demolitions targeting vendors and informal settlers occupying city-owned properties until June 30.
The suspension will not apply if there is an urgent necessity to relocate families to prevent loss of lives and property. Also exempted are the new structures constructed by informal settlers as of January 1, 2016 as certified by the barangay.
The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) and Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) office were ordered to submit a list of all vendors, homeowners associations, and informal settlers with pending demolition orders.
Osmeña said the order will take effect immediately and as soon as DWUP, PROBE, Cebu City Housing Board, and City Legal office receive the memorandum.
The order will take effect until June 30, 2016.
As of yesterday, DWUP head Collin Rosell said he has not yet received the copy of the memorandum and only learned about it from the media.
Probe team head Raquel Arce said they have three pending clearing operations in Ermita, Hippodromo and Labangon.
A
rce said she does not have problem with the memorandum and they will just have to follow the order. Osmeña clarified that the memorandum does not cover court order demolitions.