AT least 58 families occupying Aviola Street in barangay Tejero, Cebu City were reminded to demolish part of their shanties to give way to road restoration.
They were given 10 days to comply with the notice issued last Friday.
Despite this, Councilor Alvin Dizon asked Mayor Michael Rama to first consult the affected families before starting the road work aimed at providing easier access to public transportation and firetrucks.
“We can’t arbitrarily impose on these people. There’s nothing to lose if we consult them,” he told Cebu Daily News.
Tejero barangay officials want re-blocking done first at the fire site located at the back of the Blessed Sacrament church.
Barangay captain Jessel Lou Cadungog said allowing victims of the July 9 fire to rebuild their shanties is more important that widening the nearby Alviola Street.
Dizon said fire victims expect to start rebuilding their damaged shanties today.
Were it not for the follow ups of barangay officials, the reblocking scheme could have been delayed for a few more months, Dizon said.
Dizon said reblocking in barangay Tejero was completed in just one month while work in barangay T. Padilla that was hit by fire last year took four months to complete.
The 581 families were listed by the Department for Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) among the victims of last Wednesday afternoon’s fire which hit sitio Ponce Dos in Carreta and a portion of barangay Tejero.