OWNERS of establishments and households are not against the Cebu City Government’s move to demolish part of their structures that encroach on the three-meter easement of waterways.
Lawyer Gerardo Carillo, Task Force Gubat sa Baha co-chairman, said on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, that the owners of five structures along the Bulacao-Inayawan rivers are willing to move back to clear the three-meter easement.
Among those that will be affected are a slaughterhouse, a cockpit and a private school, he said.
He said Vicsal Development Corp.already destroyed the spillway that it had built, and deepened and widened the waterway that connects to the sea in Barangay Inayawan.
He said the owners of two business establishments along the Lahug-Kamputhaw rivers are waiting for the Department of Engineering and Public Works to submit a design on which part of their structures would be taken down due to “trespassing.”
“We already served the notice and we will check. They said they will allow the City to remove but they’re waiting for the suggestion as to how they will design it. It’s not too much of a problem at the Mango Park Hotel because only the parking lot will be affected, but the Lighthouse (restaurant) will definitely be affected,” Carillo said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
He said they will also send notices to owners of establishments that are built on top of the river in Barangay Mabolo.
He said the task force has already issued around 2,000 notices to owners of structures, mostly homes, which are illegally built within the three-meter easement. (PAC / PJB)