MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente “Bambi” Emano sent food packs to the informal settlers whose houses were demolished by the city clearing team on Monday, October 21, saying they were “left to starve by the city government”.
Emano said while he understood the clearing team’s job, the informal settlers were left on their own without food and a temporary shelter.
“Naluoy ko sa mga pamilya labina gyud kay ang mga kabataan nga gipanggutom, giuhaw ug walay klarong gikatulgan na basta nalang giguba ang ilang mga balay ug pagkahuman gibiyaan ra, wala man gani hatagi ug gamay nga ayuda ug bisan temporaryong katulgan palabay man lang sa gabii,” Emano said.
Emano, who is reportedly on leave, directed all provincial department heads to contribute an amount to provide food packs for the displaced families.
“Unta masabtan sa tanan nga ang nakalapas sa balaud dili gayud angayang gantihan apan wala silay katungod nga mamatay sa gutom. Gipakaon man gani sa kagamhanan ang mga piniriso sila pa ba kaha nga ang bugtong kalapasan mao ang pagtukod ug struktura nga mipatung sa sidewalk,” he said.
City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a, however dismissed, the capitol officials’ move as a diversion to real issues.
Sabuga-a said Emano has started to meddle on issues of the city because the governor wants to run for city mayor in 2022.
“Tinguha sab ni Bambi ma divert ang issue sa lease agreement sa capitol nga mga tindahan walay panugot sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Bantayan nalang niya unsay issue sa syudad para ma divert ang issues sa capitol nga wala niya natubag,” Sabuga-a said.
Sabuga-a asks the informal settlers to return to the relocation sites and live in the housing units they availed.
The city government earlier insisted that the informal settlers already got housing units from the city’s relocation program. However they still continue to live in the sidewalks of Gumamela Street, barangay Carmen, and either sold or rented out to other families their housing unit.