A re-design of the stone riprap fence and the relocation of the 60 families will be prioritized by Cebu City officials amid last Tuesday evening’s accident that killed two people and injured six others in sitio Cadahuan, barangay Talamban, Cebu City.
Commonwealth Estate Inc. (CEI), the developer of Casa del Rio subdivision will submit today the new design of the subdivision’s riprap wall to the Office of the Building Official (OBO).
Engr. Alipio Bacalso, Jr. City Planning and Development coordinator, said they will inspect the affected area anew.
“These areas are found to be non-buildable and non-saleable,” said Bacalso
Bacalso said if there’s expansion and alteration of the project site, the developer will be assessed by the City Planning and Development Office.
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor will make their own separate assessment on the proposed relocation site in barangay Budlaan.
The families are temporarily staying at the Talamban Elementary School. Santillana said the barangay has yet to give them the number of affected families in the area.
CCDRMC chief Santillana said both the DWUP and the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) will conduct the socio-eco survey of the affected families.
Santillana said Mayor Michael Rama wanted to expedite the processing in anticipation of the rainy season which would make relocation difficult for the settlers.
He said the city is also expecting assistance from the CEI in relocating the families.
CEI spokesman Jonji Gonzales said they will give financial assistance to the families whose houses were damaged.
He said the company is open to shouldering the transportation costs during the relocation.
The 39-year-old wife of Nestor Tapdasan, one of two persons who died in the accident, asked for scholarship for their children.
Elena Tapdasan said they are temporarily staying in a shanty in sitio Kalubihan, whose rent will cost her P2,000 a month.
She said she doesn’t know where to get money for them after her daughter, a contractual worker, marries next month.
City Councilor Alvin Dizon said the separate socio-economic survey is being done by the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor to verify the study done by the DWUP and the DSWD.
The commission’s survey will determine if the families are qualified to avail of the Socialized Housing Program under the Urban Development Housing Act.
Dizon said next week’s survey will be conducted in coordination with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) which will start next week. He said the city government set P25 million for site development.
“We have appropriated P10 million for the livelihood assistance for those affected by demolition and natural disasters,” Dizon said.
For their part, the Cebu City police said they will wait for the report of the Office of the Building Official to determine whether or not to file charges for criminal liability on the developer’s part.
Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB), said if there is sufficient evidence, reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and physical injuries and even damage to properties will be filed against CEI.
He said it depends to a large extent on whether there will be complainants willing to file the charges against the developer. With Correspondents Chito Aragon, Edison delos Angeles, Rhea Ruth V. Rosell and Tweeny M. Malinao