THE University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu proposes a win-win solution for the Cebu City Government and the fire victims of Purok 3, Barangay Kamputhaw.
The fire last Dec. 5 damaged 70 houses that were on the estimated three-hectare lot reportedly owned by UP Cebu.
UP Cebu Chancellor Liza Corro said the university acknowledges the residents’ need to stay where they used to, but the school, on the other hand, needs a place where it can construct its buildings.
“It’s not a question of whether or not we allow it (the re-blocking and rebuilding of houses by the fire victims), but it’s a question of how we can all help out each other here. It’s a balancing of everything and meeting half-way,” said Corro.
Some 194 families who lost their houses to the fire are waiting to be allowed to rebuild their homes on the UP-owned lot.
In an interview on Monday, Dec. 10, Corro said UP Cebu is also being questioned by the Commission on Audit on what it is doing with the Cebu Province-donated property.
Corro proposed an off-hand idea that if the City Government helps the university, a proposal to the Board of Regents to allow a portion of the land for leasing while maintaining a portion of it for UP-intended plans would be a win-win solution.
Under the UP Campus Master Development Plan, the lot is intended for UP Faculty and Staff Housing.
“Some proposed ideas we have, which I believe is not new, is that maybe, let them (residents) lease the property so that the stigma of informal settlement is removed,” she said.
However, she said that the lease of the land can also just be temporary.
While UP is working on how the educational purpose of the land can be served (funding for construction of the faculty and staff housing), the residents can temporarily use the lot for lease.
“UP has a lot of faculty members who also do not own their own houses. I think it’s fair enough that the UP employees should also be given the opportunity to enjoy those lots,” she said.
She clarified that, as of now, they haven’t received any communication yet from the City Government and the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor since the fire happened.
“They haven’t asked for a meeting at all, as of today,” said Corro. (Wenilyn Sabalo, USJ-R intern)