Clearing stopped in Ermita fire site

CLEARING operations in the fire site in sitio Bato, barangay Ermita were ordered suspended following reports of renewed tension between affected families and the team tasked to clear the area.
Acting Cebu City Mayor Joy Augustus Young handed his order to City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete to suspend clearing operations after sitio Bato residents blocked the clearing team.
Policemen were also fielded to maintain peace and order.
“I think the reblocking will have to be done but there are steps to be followed,” Young said.
Young said he wanted to first satisfy the demand of the families for consultation before any clearing is done at the fire site.
He said he received reports that the Ermita families formed a homeowners group to avail of socialized housing. The association is now working with the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) to buy the lot they are occupying.
Young said the families are worried about how the reblocking will affect their stay in the lot. Poblete said the fire victims were already consulted on the clearing.
“Records will show that the meeting (we called) was well attended and the majority were amenable to re-blocking,” he said.
Young said he was told by Bato occupants that only Team Rama supporters from sitio Bato were invited during the executive-department initiated consultation.
He said he will call for another consultation on Monday with the 317 homeowners in the area.
Ermita barangay captain Antonieto Flores was irate with Young’s order to call off clearing operations.
“Wala may demolition diha. Clearing ra man na kay na sunogan man na (There’s no demolition. It’s a clearing operation because the homes were already burnt),” he said. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles