Filling materials are dumped on the street behind the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in this May 23, 2016 file photo as the site development of the fire site in Barangays Mantuyong and Guizo is put on hold. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
More than two months after the March 12 fire razed hundreds of houses in Barangays Mantuyong and Guizo, the Mandaue City government will finally push through with the site development of the area, which includes reblocking.
The team from the City Engineering Office of the Mandaue City government will start developing the area next week.
They will be secured by police officers after the city government sought security assistance from the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas to prevent any clash or intervention from the urban poor group opposed to the reblocking of the site.
Lawyer Jamaal James Calipayan, Mayor Jonas Cortes’ executive secretary, said that Fedmacupi, an urban poor group, has opposed the reblocking planned by Mandaue City government, questioning their authority over the city government 93-1 donated lot to the urban poor.
The group allegedly filed a case at the Ombudsman Visayas against Mandaue City officials.
This prevented the City Engineering Office from developing the fire site pending the decision of the Ombudsman.
Calipayan, however, said that based on the findings of the City Legal Office, the city government has the authority to initiate the development of the donated lot.
He said the issue has already been cleared with other urban poor groups, who understand the need for a reblocking.
“There was just misinformation during that time before the election as some political personality instigated them, causing them to oppose the city’s reblocking plan,” said Calipayan.
He said that were it not for the opposition of the urban poor group, filling materials would have already been administered.
“Siguro, makita ninyo nga ang mga filling materials nga mga hinatag sab pinaagi sa atong hangyo, naa lang gipamutang karon diha sa dalan likod sa CICC (Maybe, you can see the filling materials donated through the efforts of the city government, could have been used and not dumped on the street at the back of CICC),” said Calipayan.
Engineer Andres Suson, acting city engineer, said they can finish developing the site in four months, including the circumferential road.
A modular housing facility will also be built near the fire site to temporarily house some of the fire victims.
He said the facility is made of prefabricated materials and are easily dismantled, then can be set up again once the need arises.
The city government is processing the procurement of the materials needed for the construction of five 3-story units with 45 rooms each, Calipayan added.
Aside from this, the government is also considering building a medium-rise condominium in the area.
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