Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday said he would like to explore with the provincial government and Vice President Jejomar Binay a joint housing program for the city’s illegal settlers.
He said this would be better than the Capitol’s “Balik Lungsod” program that aims to return slum dwellers to their hometowns but hasn’t gotten off the ground.
For the short-term, Rama said he would like red security lines and warning signs put up along danger zones like rivers, creeks and landslide-prone areas, especially with the onset of the rainy season.
His interest in a housing project arose after Mahiga Creek residents filed criminal and administrative charges against him before the Ombudsman for demolishing at least 35 shanties without giving cash aid or a relocation site.
“These people already work here. They have their children who go to school here,” Rama said, in talking favorably about a housing project.
Rama said Gov. Gwen Garcia just smiled when he talked to her about it during yesterday’s Metro Cebu Development Coordination Board meeting.
“I told the governor nganong dili man ta mag buhat ug partnership with Vice President Binay, capitol and the city of Cebu to come up with a real housing project for the poor,” Rama told reporters.
“The governor only smiled. I think that needs to be followed up. We will wait,” Rama added.
The mayor noted Monday’s downpour where the water level at the Mahiga Creek rose and overflowed.
“Wala pa gani bagyo ato,” said Rama.
Rama said he was bent on clearing the waterways of illegal structures because of the threat to lives of people living along them.
At least 35 structures have already been removed along the Mahiga Creek in Cebu City’s side since May 2.
Lawyer Collin Rosell, head of the city’s Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), said the city government had previously offered relocation to the affected families.
Rosell said thy were offered relocation to St. Michael’s Neighborhood Association in San Jose, Talamban, which is one of the city’s socialized housing sites.
Rosell said 79 land parcels of 40 sq. meters each were ready for their occupancy.
TAnother 300 parcels of land may be occupied once developed.
Rosell, however, said the Mahiga Creek families were uninterested to the city’s offer.
“Siguro confused sila on where to go,” said Rosell.
Mayor Rama said he is interetested in a tie-up between Cebu City, Cebu Provincial government and President Binay’s Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) to address urban poor problems.