MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano has denied the allegations of a city official that he is meddling with the affairs of the city government after he helped informal settlers displaced by the road clearing operation in Gumamela Street, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, last week.
“Bisan gamay wala koy labot sa pagpadagan sa syudad. Klaro kana kaayo ug dili ko batasan nga magsakay-sakay ug isyu," Emano said.
(I had nothing to do in running the city, even if it was little. It is not in my personality to ride with the issue.)
Following the demolition of the houses of some 13 families living along a sidewalk in Gumamela Street, Emano, who was reportedly on leave, ordered all provincial department heads to contribute an amount to provide food packs for the displaced families.
City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a, however, saw it as a diversion to real issues and part of the governor's move in running for city mayor in 2022.
Emano said that while he understood the clearing team's job, they also should not leave the informal settlers on their own without food and shelter.
"Gibati ug naluoy lang ko sa kagutom ug kabalaka sa mga pamilya ug mga kabataan nga natulog sa carton, daplin sa dalan, ug sulod sa emburnal sa Gumamela Extension, Barangay Carmen kang kansang panimalay gipangguba sa clearing operation sa composite team niadtong buntag sa Oktobre 21, 2019," Emano said.
(I pitied and felt the hunger and worry of the families and children who were sleeping using cartons, on the roadsides, and inside the sewers at Gumamela Extension, Barangay Carmen. Their houses were destroyed during the road clearing of the composite team in the morning of October 21, 2019.)
The city administrator, for his part, asked the informal settlers to return to the relocation sites and live in the housing units they availed.
The informal settlers, according to the city government, already got housing units from the city’s relocation program but they still continue to live in the sidewalks of Gumamela Street and either sold or rented out to other families their housing unit.