Right to demolish

I think the Mahiga Creek controversy has been taken out of proportion. Everyone concerned is supposed to help the Cebu City government deal with this problem. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was right when he decided to demolish the illegal structures along the creek. It is very clear that the occupants were aware that settling along the creek was illegal. Many of them already received assistance from the city government several times. Their posturing that they are poor and have no houses is just for media mileage because in the first place they are aware of their situation as illegal occupants. The Mahiga Creek controversy should not be oversimplified.

True, many of the settlers are poor but the law states that they have no right to occupy a riverbank. Second, they should be given relocation sites before demolition but the settlers don’t want to leave because their means of livelihood is in the area. Is there any property nearby for sale as a possible relocation site? This is what illegal occupants are now demanding from the government: a relocation site that would meet their needs.

Mayor Rama is saying enough is enough because this problem has been with the city for quite a while and many times. With his vast experience in dealing with these occupants he has decided to deal with the issue with a strong hand because if not, the issue will never be resolved considering the demands of the illegal occupants.

I think the group of Rep. Tommy Osmeña could have helped solve the problem if they only talked with the mayor and offered something that both parties can agree on. I am very happy that Vice President Jejomar Binay said he would look into the issue and hopefully help resolve it. I think this is where other government agencies can come in and help provide solutions. This is a complicated problem that the city cannot resolve on its own. Instead of politicking, stakeholders should sit down and come up with a workable solution.

Filing a court case against Rama, who is just doing his job, will only make this more difficult. Provide solutions within your means instead of filing cases. The case will become protracted and long winding. Is this what the occupants and the political enemies of Rama want?

Let the mayor do his job. After all, Congressman Tommy Osmeña was once the mayor and had the opportunity to solve the issue but did not. Now that Rama is the mayor, he is trying his best to put order in the city which Osmeña failed to do. Support a partymate in Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) because he is trying to his best for the city and the people.

I think Osmeña should realize that he has no monopoly of answers to the city’s problems. He was the mayor of the city for two terms and failed to address the issue that Rama is now addressing.

Congressman Tommy, please give Mike Rama the chance to work as a mayor. If he fails in the eyes of the public, the public will have the opportunity to hold him accountable. The city is in good hands. I can assure you that Rama is not a corrupt politician and puts the interests of the people above self.

Many people are seeing how he tries his best. You have different management styles. Respect Rama for his management style in the same manner that he respected you when you were the mayor.

Congressman Tommy, you must also remember that you are partly responsible for the mayorship of Mike Rama. The public expects you to help him as his big brother. However, many also anticipated that Rama will suffer the same fate as mayor Alvin Garcia.

Remember that Mike Rama learned a lesson from what happened to Garcia. I bet you Garcia’s fate won’t happen to Mike Rama.

Rama should also consider giving the Mahiga River occupants a relocation site. I would humbly submit that he allocate a portion of the South Road Properties (SRP) for this.