ASIDE from 33 structures, more houses will have to be removed under the Mandaue City side of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge while it is undergoing repairs.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and officials of the Mandaue City Housing and Urban Development Office (Hudo) inspected the area yesterday.
But both agencies cannot say if the affected families will receive financial assistance or will be relocated.
Renault Ricardo, assistant district engineer of DPWH 6th Engineering District Office, said the national agency cannot provide any assistance to the families because its concern is the acquisition of the road-right-of-way that will be part of the U-turn slot under the bridge.
No total yet
Tony Pet Juanico, head of Hudo, said the number of affected structures will go up because the 33 houses are those that will be affected by the construction of the U-turn slot.
However, they have yet to determine the total number of structures that need to be demolished, he said.
Juanico said the safe zone is five meters away from the sidewalk of the bridge.
All structures within five meters of the sidewalk have to be removed, he said.
It was learned during yesterday’s inspection that the Looc Barangay Hall will also be affected.
“Right now our stand is structures will not be removed if relocation site and financial assistance are not yet available. Definitely, we can assist them of whatever assistance but right now no movement first,” Juanico said told reporters.
He said they need to know the exact number of structure owners that will be affected for their next move.
Hudo will coordinate with DPWH in terms of providing any sort of assistance to the affected families.
Three notices
In a separate interview, Ricardo said they gave the families under the bridge three notices to vacate. First, on Feb. 3; second, on Feb. 11; and third, on Feb. 19.
“Di na ta mo-delay niini so mangita ang contractor og (We cannot afford to further delay the project so the contractor should look for) safety measures,” he said.
If something happens while repairs are ongoing, the contractor’s insurance will take care of it, he said.
The P129.6-million rehabilitation of the bridge began last Feb. 8 and is scheduled to be completed in August.
Contractor Jegma Construction is currently working on the bridge’s sidewalks.
Project engineer Chuck Lopez said their concern is only the bridge rehabilitation and the U-turn slot.
“We had assumed that there were no more houses under the bridge. As a contractor, it is hard on our part. We could not operate full blast because there are families under the bridge sleeping at night,” he said in Cebuano.
Lopez said they might not be able to complete repairs on time, considering several factors, including the families living under the bridge.
One of the residents, Dionelo Pinote, 51, said he received the second notice from the DPWH last Thursday.
He said he doesn’t mind moving as long as a relocation site is ready for his family.
“Until there is no clear negotiation with the government, we will not move out,” he said.
His wife Mercedita, 55, said they heard they will receive financial assistance. She hopes that it will be given.