Newsbriefs

36 Tejero families asked to leave

THE head of Cebu City’s demolition team asked at least 36 families in barangay Tejero to voluntarily demolish their structures which are obstructing the city’s road restoration project.

Raquel Arce issued a 10-day notice asking the concerned families to get rid of their structures which have become a public “nuisance.”

“In view of the above, you are hereby given 10-days notice upon receipt to voluntarily clear your illegal structures on the said location or secure a hold order from the Office of the Mayor or a TRO from the court.,” Arce stated in a November 18-notice.

Tejero councilman Garry Lao said the affected families have been calling their barangay hall since Monday morning asking for help. Lao complained that the barangay was bypassed in the distribution of the notices and said there are still several issues that need to be addressed especially on the relocation of the affected families.

Mayor Michael Rama revived the city’s road restoration project following the 2011 conflagration in the area.

Barangay officials, Lao said, also requested for a meeting with the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), City Planning Office and Probe but a meeting has not been scheduled./CHIEF OF REPORTERS DORIS C. BONGCAC

Davide mulls cancellation of Capitol Christmas party

INSTEAD of having a Christmas party at the provincial capitol, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III plans to go around the province and distribute goodies to children especially in northern Cebu areas affected by supertyphoon Yolanda.

“We’ll see because it’s Christmas and everybody expects a party. But, on the other hand, we also have our brothers and sisters who will experience a bleak Christmas because of what happened,” he told reporters on Friday.

“My suggestion to people here in the Capitol is that we go out two to three days to the towns then we distribute our Christmas share to the kids such as goodies, instead of a party,” he added.

All employees of the Cebu Provincial Government including the members of the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale will join the holiday caravan, he said.CORRESPONDENT PETER L. ROMANILLOS