Bimbo’s group faces blacklisting by City Hall

A foundation headed by former Cebu City administrator Francisco Fernandez faces the prospect of being blacklisted by City Hall from city projects for the urban poor.

“I will recommend that they be blacklisted temporarily,” said Colllin Rosell, chief of the Department of Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) yesterday.

Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc., an award-winning advocate in community-based urban poor housing in Cebu City, was one of the parties that took the cudgels for residents of Mahiga Creek, and filed administrative and civil cases against Mayor Michael Rama for demolishing over 30 houses without prior relocation or consultation.

Rosell said he will recommend the blacklisting of the group because of a complaint from the Kamagayan Neighborhood and Homeowners Association Inc. (KNHAI).

In their letter, 300 residents said the foundation collected P2 million in amortization fees from them after families were relocated from Kamagayan to a city owned lot in Mandaue City. They asked City Hall to clarify where the funds went.

Fernandez denied that payments were made for mortgage.

He said the foundation provided housing materials to the displaced families and that payment was collected from residents by a leader of the homeowners association, who died, leaving unclear records.

Other details of the transaction were not available.

The residents asked for assistance from DWUP.

Rosell, head of the DWUP, said a blacklisting may not be formally done since there was no written agreement between the foundation and the city government in the first place.

Fernandez said the threat to blacklist them was a form of retaliation by City Hall to their filing of charges against Rama and two other officials.

“If this is revenge, that’s not good,” he said.

Fernandez said the city government doesn’t have to blacklist Pagtambayayong anyway because the foundation is not formally bound to the Cebu City government for any project.

The Mahiga Creek demolition resulted in a political fallout between Rama and the council comprised of members of the administration Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) party headed by Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district.

Last night, Mayor Rama met over dinner with 18 city councilors to discuss the fate of more than 5,000 City Hall casual employees and the revamp of City Council committees.

Councilor Alvin Dizon, who questioned Rama’s refusal to grant financial aid and adequate relocation to the Mahiga Creek settlers, said the dinner meeting was cordial and jolly.

Rama said the council will be left to decide on the revamp of their committees. He denied that loyalty checks were being made on City Hall employees.

Councilor Edgar Labella said some City Hall employees went to him to express their concerns over their status.

But Rama said employees who work hard and perform well have nothing to fear.

Rama, who will leave for Israel tomorrow on official business, said he plans to hold more meetings with the council.