Demolition continues without hitch

ALL nine houses in Sitio Mabuhay, Barangay Luz, Cebu City that were marked for demolition were finally torn down yesterday.

Mabolo Police Chief Enrique Belciña said the continuation of the demolition, which started last Monday, went smoothly.

He said 18 policemen were deployed in the area.

Belciña said yesterday’s operation didn’t begin until around 10 a.m., as they were waiting for the clearance to secure the area from the Cebu City Police Office.

“Even sa wala pami niabot, ang mga residents, gihinay-hinay nila ug guba ang nahabilin na mga balay (Before we arrived, the affected residents were slowly taking down what was left of their houses),” he said.

Luz Barangay Captain Ryan Tante said their main concern now is where the informal settlers will live.

“Some said the relocation (site) is in Pardo and Basak, but we will still have to clarify this,” he said.

He said, the affected residents can temporarily stay in the barangay’s basketball court.

Sheriff Joseph Olmedo of the Regional Trial Court Branch 11 said the affected families may each get P10,000 as assistance, but they will have to be assessed first.

Some 32 houses in Sitios Lubi and Nangka are also scheduled for demolition, Belciña said.

The affected families in the three sitios are members of the Barrio Luz Urban Poor Association.

The court ordered their houses demolished after they lost the case they filed in 1994 against homeowners’ associations in the area.

The houses were supposed to be demolished last April yet, but the City asked the court to reconsider after a fire hit the area last May 11.

A total of 70 families will be affected by the demolition since some houses are occupied by more than one family.