City Hall demolishes fence in contested Cebu port lot

The Cebu City government tore down cement walls and metal fences put up by the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) in the disputed lot fronting the City Hall’s executive building yesterday afternoon.

Two bulldozers, two dump trucks and a backhoe took down the cement walls in P. Burgos and Lapu-lapu streets which blocked roads leading to the old Compania Maritima building. Metal fences which blocked F. Gonzales St. were also torn down.

“We are only taking down those that obstruct the roads,” said Raquel Arce, chief of Cebu City Hall’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) team.

Metal fences along the Cebu South Coastal Road were left standing because they can prevent kids from going near and crossing the highway.

Traffic signs and safety railings previously put up by CPA were also retained, he added.

“We are thankful that there’s no more resistance from the CPA. The presence of police also helped us,” she said.

Port Police head Felix Angelo Quianzon, who was present during the demolition, said that they didn’t intend to resist and that they were only there to document.

The City Hall’s Market Enforcement Unit also took down two billboard announcing CPA’s claim over the lot — a reclaimed area where the old Compania Maritima building stands.

Waterfront Police Station commander Chief Insp.Wildemar Tiu said they fielded 15 policemen to prevent any violent during the demolition.

“We are only here to maintain peace and order. All the legalities are in the higher levels,” he said.

A notice of the fence demolition was received by Mia Aniñon, the secretary of the CPA general manager at 2:58 p.m yesterday.

Demolition immediately started thereafter.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ordered City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete last week to ask for police assistance during the demolitionafter port police stopped the city government’s earlier attempt to take down a billboard announcing CPA’s claim of ownership over the lot.