Residents deny being ‘boarders’ of old Kamagayan brgy hall
FROM HALL TO HOME. The old Kamagayan barangay hall is furnished with home items such as tables, chairs and kitchenware. At least seven families have been living in the hall for years. / Ralph Christian Martinez
RESIDENTS who have been living for some time in the old Kamagayan barangay hall in Cebu City denied claims that the building is being converted into a boarding house.
These residents have said the building was an evacuation center with the previous offices and space converted into living quarters.
SunStar Cebu visited the quarters and found that the barangay hall has been furnished with tables, chairs and some storage items. Kitchenware was also stacked in some parts of the hall.
Sleeping mats and foams were laid out on the floor where people slept. The building also lacked any sort of proper maintenance, resulting in leaks from the roof during rainy days.
Residents said since living there, they have been paying for the utilities at an average of P2,000 for electricity and P1,500 for water monthly.
“Mag divide mi sa among bill sa water or sa kuryente kay per person namo. Usahay kung mo delay kung usahay naay notice of disconnection, si kap mo bayad tawn,” said Elma, who sought anonymity.
(We divide our water or electricity bill per person, so each of us contributes. Sometimes, if there’s a delay or if someone fails to pay their share, there may be a notice of disconnection, then it is the barangay captain who pays.)
The building, located on Don Pedro Cui St., currently houses seven families with a total of 16 people who were displaced due to calamities, personal circumstances and other reasons.
Some of them have been living in the barangay hall since 2021, saying they had no other place to go.
A resident, who recently moved into the third floor of the building, was one of the individuals affected by the recent closure of the Kamagayn V-hire terminal.
Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the police to investigate the claims that the old barangay hall in Kamagayan has been turned into a “boarding house” and that the building utilities are paid for by taxpayers’ money.
“Kanang giingon nga gipaabangan nga ipatan-aw na nato kay pwede man gihapon na sa isyu sa peace and order ba. Pwede sad na sa public safety. Ngano man nga mahimo mang barangay hall ug boarding house?” Rama said.
(We want to see the truth about that boarding house because that could also be an issue of peace and order. It could be a public safety concern. Why was the barangay hall turned into a boarding house?)
Elma, who is also a barangay mediator, said Barangay Captain Raquel Avila has not given any directives on what should be done for them living in the old barangay hall.
Some barangay councilors have warned residents to be prepared to leave anytime soon.
“That’s what some other councilors are saying, to be cautious and prepared because Mayor Rama has a tendency to suddenly demolish things. Look at what happened in GT before. It was really heartbreaking for the people there,” said Elma in Cebuano.
SunStar Cebu has tried to reach Avila for comment, but the village chief has not responded as of the time of writing. (RJM)
