THE demolitions in rivers and creeks of Mandaue City were put on hold pending the completion of a 6.5-hectare relocation site in barangay Paknaan.
Nevertheless, the demolition team is monitoring the three-meter easement zone illegally occupied by settlers.
City Legal Officer Giovanni Tianero said pigpens and restrooms-for-rent were demolished because “these structures were used to generate income for the informal settlers.”
He noted that settlers were not paying taxes to the city government.
According to the Urban Development Housing Act (UDHA), individuals affected by demolition must be provided a relocation site and prior consultation must be observed.
Tianero said government structures built on top or along the river were not touched to avoid hampering their operations.
He cited the traffic and the police clearance offices of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO). Tianero said these have to be relocated.
Tianero said they are asking settlers to voluntarily take down their houses especially those structures built on top of the river or blocking the waterway.
City legal consultant Francisco Amit said the local government could tap the police to demolish houses along danger zones since these endanger the lives of people but they want to follow the UDHA law. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos