FOR some of the fire victims in Purok 3, Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City the temporary lease proposal by the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu is a better idea than total demolition and relocation.
The residents lost their houses during the fire last Dec. 5.
Last Monday, Dec. 10, UP Cebu Chancellor Liza Corro said that one of the off-hand ideas they have, should the City Government help the university, is to temporarily lease a portion of the land, while maintaining a portion of it for UP-intended plans.
Resident Mercy Zamora, 39, said that if that’s what UP Cebu decides, then they have no choice but to follow.
“Wala mi mahimo ana kay sila (UP) ma’y tag-iya. Muabang ra mi basta lang ka-afford mi sa ilang ipaabang. Kana lang sang’ makaya-kaya namo kay usa ra baya ang nangita namo (We can’t do anything since UP owns the lot. We will rent if we can afford it. We hope it’ll be something we can afford since only one is earning in the family),” said Zamora.
Kamputhaw Barangay Captain Jessica Cadungog said that if a relocation site will be provided by the City Government, it might be in an area far from the city.
“Kung naa man gani relocation (site) ihatag ang City Government, adto na gyud na sa bukid-bukid, which I think is unfavorable sa mga residente, considering nga naa diri sa heart of the city ilang panginabuhian (Should there be a relocation site that the City will give, chances are it will be in the mountain areas, which I think is unfavorable to the residents considering that their livelihood is in the city),” said Cadungog.
Esmeralda Macaayong, 58, a resident of Purok 3 for almost 25 years, said that for now, it is just okay for her to lease the lot.
“Para sa akong dapit, sa pagkakaron okay ra ko paabangon ko kay sa adto ko ibutang ngadto sa kabungturan. Mas maayo ang pwesto diri kay duol ra skwelahan ug sa siyudad (For me, I’m okay about renting for now rather than being placed in the upland area. This is a better location since we’re near the schools and in the city),” she said.
However, UP Chancellor Corro, in an interview last Monday, said the lease of the land would just be temporary.
Romeo Magno, 57, said that if they have no other choice but to be relocated, then the City Government should see to it that their new homes will have water and electricity.
“Okay ra nga bukid ang relocation basta lang kay naa unta’y kuryente, tubig nya dili na sikit-sikit, naa na’y road right-of-way ba (It’s okay to be relocated upland, just as long as there’s electricity, water and the houses won’t be too cramped, and there’s a road right-of-way),” he said.
Cadungog clarified that the reason the City and the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) have not sent any communication to UP Cebu yet is that they are still finalizing their counter-proposal.
She explained that with the plans of UP Cebu to use the 2.5- to three-hectare Province-donated lot, other Kamputhaw residents, aside from those 194 families affected by the fire, will also be affected by UP’s plans.
“Actually, we had a meeting with the DWUP and they weren’t able to finalize the letter (of invitation for UP Cebu for a meeting) since they are still waiting for the DWUP’s list of victims and those who did not lose their houses since they will also be affected. They’re included in the meeting),” said Cadungog. (from Wenylin Sabalo, USJ-R intern)