Mahiga settlers hold Mass, thankful for aid

Displaced residents of Mahiga Creek in sitio San Isidro, barangay Mabolo held a thanksgiving Mass in sitio San Isidro, barangay Mabolo, last night following the P10-million livelihood allocation given to them by Cebu City Hall.

The Mass was attended by city officials led by Rep. Tomas Osmeña and his wife Councilor Margot Osmeña, Francisco Fernandez of the Pagtambayayong Foundation, Councilor Alvin Dizon and Mabolo barangay captain Rey Ompoc.

Gerry Prestin, one of the affected Mahiga residents, said they were grateful that Mayor Michael Rama heeded their request for aid.

The livelihood budget was allocated after the mayor rejected the City Council’s request that aid be given to the settlers.

Councilor Osmeña said the livelihood aid should have been given from the start along with the temporary relocation site.

She said the mayor should have listened to the council and not rejected their request outright.

“Imagine, this Mahiga issue was the reason of his leaving the BO-PK, right?,” Osmeña said. Her husband was more blunt.

“Rama always wanted to go. I knew he was still gonna leave the group even if this Mahiga issue did not happen,” Osmeña said.

The congressman said he heard from then senator Mar Roxas that Rama offered to align with the Liberal Party (LP) even without the BO-PK.

The Mass took place three days before the July 1 State of the City Address of the mayor.

At City Hall, Mayor Rama canceled his dinner invitation to the council yesterday.

Rama said he would rather prepare for his Soca on Friday afternoon.

“I don’t want to talk about it (the dinner invitation). The matter of fellowship is something that we will continue to do,” he said.

Rama said while he already left the Bando Osmena-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), he does not begrudge his former colleagues.

The council will meet after today’s regular session to finalize preparations for their July 6 session.

Rama will deliver his Soca at Plaza Sugbu in front of City Hall after a 3 p.m. Mass on Friday instead of at the City Council, the traditional venue of the annual speech.

At the relocation site last night with Mahiga residents, Councilor Dizon said the livelihood aid was a vindication of the council’s position.

“Nothing changes, we reiterate our stand to support the city government’s move to clear the rivers but it should follow the right procedures,” Dizon said.

Fernandez said the filing of administrative charges against Rama and two other officials in relation to the demolition of shanties in the Mahiga Creek was nothing personal.

Ompoc for his part, said he will make sure that no settler will return to the creek now that the area is cleared. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Correspondent Edison delos Angeles