News Briefs

Aid to Labangon fire victims

The widening of the access road leading to sitio Bugnay, barangay Labangon, Cebu City, will be done before the displaced families are allowed to rebuild their homes following last Sunday’s fire.

Cathy Yso, chief of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), said about 63 families and 23 house owners will be given housing materials on Friday this week.

“We are finishing the paperworks so the materials would be available this week,” she said.

The affected families were given free meals on the first night after the fire and Yso said this will last until tomorrow only.

Labangon barangay captain Victor Buendia said he opened the barangay hall for the families.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wanted to widen the access road in the area and open an emergency exit in the nearby Bliss Subdivision to allow sitio Bugnay residents an alternative roadway.

Rama said firefighters had difficulty putting out the fire since the site was located in an interior portion of sitio Bugnay.

Water hoses had to be connected to reach the area. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

Balili sale liquidation

THE Capitol wants a liquidation of the Balili property sale to the province to ensure that they receive the P37-million refund from the family’s estate.

Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda said the Provincial Legal Office filed a motion for reconsideration last Friday  to recover part of the P98 million they paid to the Balili estate for the 27-hectare property in barangay Tina-an, Naga City.

He said improper accounting may deprive the Capitol of the refund they sought. Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 granted the release of P7.4 million to the late engineer. Luis Balili’s four children as part of their share of the property’s sale.

“Because of that ruling, we would have to seek intervention because if we won and there’s no liquidation, then the money will be gone. There’s that danger that the money won’t be intact,” Sepulveda said.

The refund was sought after a survey by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showed that nine hectares of the property were underwater and 20 hectares were found to be public timberland. /Correspondent  Fe Marie Dumaboc

Capitol’s Fuente beautification

NINE contractors have signified their participation in the Capitol’s beautification project that will cover the Capitol area down to Fuente Osmeña Rotunda following a meeting with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday.

Duros, WTG, Socor, Orsamiento, Pragmatic, Barsteel, Rovilla, Maningo and Supreme ABF will provide materials and personnel to construct the nine blocks leading to the Fuente Osmeña Circle, Garcia said.

She said the pathway design would be American colonial period-inspired. Garcia said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will repair the drainage systems in the area.

“The Capitol will also pay for construction of the block near the Capitol,” the governor said.

Garcia said they want to complete the project on July 30, a few days ahead of the 442nd founding anniversary of Cebu province. /Correspondent Fe Marie D. Dumaboc