Clearing of shanties at the Mahiga Creek on the Mandaue City side will take a week, city officials say. (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA)
MANDAUE City Hall’s demolition team began demolishing the 73 houses along the Mandaue City side of the Mahiga Creek in Barangay Subangdaku last Monday.
There was no resistance from the settlers, most of whom hoped that the city government will give them consideration since they were unable to find another place to relocate to.
“Naghuwat mi sa financial assistance nga ilang ihatag namo aron magamit namo sa pagpangita og kabalhinan (We are waiting for the financial assistance they are going to give us to be used for finding a place to transfer),” settler Julieta Roca of Sapa-Sapa said. The settlers were given until the end of last month to relocate.
Another settler, 49-year-old Alma Mariveles, said she chose to avail of cash aid rather than relocation at the Paknaan site because she cannot afford the mortgage rate.
City Legal Office assistant James Allan Sayson said their office coordinated with the Mandaue City Police Office to enforce the demolition.
He said the Mandaue City Engineering Office will only transport building materials for the settlers within the city for free. Sayson said they would be clearing the Mahiga Creek within the week.
Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing ordered the clearing of the Mahiga Creek and other waterways in the city including the dredging and strict implementation of solid waste management.