City to start Guizo, Mantuyong development

THE Mandaue City Government will send notices to the fire victims of Barangays Guizo and Mantuyong, especially those who rebuilt structures in the fire site, telling them to leave so the City can start the site development.

City Administrator Giovanni Tianero said the Office of the Building Official (OBO) was also tasked to inspect those families reportedly tapping power from the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) building.

Officials from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), Provincial DRRM, City Social Welfare and Services, Housing and Urban Development Office and Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue City met yesterday to talk about the situation of the fire victims.

A total of 2,222 families were displaced by fire last March 12 in the two barangays.

Most of the fire victims have been staying on the CICC grounds while the site is being developed.

Development

The development includes clearing, re-blocking, construction of roads and drainage system.

Tianero said the City has been ready for the site development, but there was opposition by some of the fire victims.

He said appropriate notices will be served to them as soon as possible.

“Mao na padal-an na sila og appropriate notices nga (We will give them appropriate notices) to vacate and demolish. After the allotted or stated period then mo-impose na mi, mo-implement na mi (then we will implement the site development). Of course, opposition will be meted with appropriate sanctions provided by the law,” Tianero said.

An estimated 60 families have rebuilt structures and continued to stay on the fire site.

Filling materials donated by the contractors were temporary placed on WO Seno St. and AS Fortuna Ext.

Families who have been living on the CICC grounds will stay there until the transitory houses will be built near the fire site.

The City allotted P72 million for the purchase of five collapsible transitory houses.

During the meeting yesterday, Tianero said they received a report from the officers of the Province that there were families who tapped power on the CICC building.

“So we decided to have the Office of the Building Official inspect those reported tappings and to stop them from continuing these illegal tappings on the CICC building,” he said.

Tianero said they will coordinate with the Department of General Services in terms of handling the garbage, following reports that there were fire survivors who did not properly dispose of their trash.

Safety

In a separate interview, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said he will not allow the families to stay inside the CICC for their safety.

After the earthquake and typhoon Yolanda, Davide said it is no longer safe to be used.

Davide is waiting for the risk assessment on the CICC from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Engineering Office.

Meantime, Davide is set to issue an executive order for the temporary suspension of canyoneering activities in Alegria and Badian.

Davide wants the two towns to follow the guidelines, especially canonyeering operators, for the safety of guests.

Davide is asking for the indulgence of stakeholders.

The PDRRMO noticed that some operators lack the proper equipment.