Mahiga dwellers to be moved by December

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes is bent on moving out families living in danger zones beside the Mahiga Creek before the year ends as the risk of flash floods rises during rainy days.

The transfers have been gradually implemented since November, but he admitted that not all 1,200 families can be moved out in December.

“It would be a wishful thinking to say we can relocate them all by this month. We did it slowly, assuring also their (settlers’) safety and convenience,” Cortes said.

A group of residents, known as Philcadan settlers, plan to seek a temporary restraining order from the court to stop the eviction.

The mayor said this was a small group only, and would not stop him from enforcing the law.

“Pila ra gud na sila, ikompara sa kadaot nga mahitabo kon magpabilin sila diha (There are only a few compared to the great damage that would happen if they remain in the area),” Cortes told Cebu Daily News.

A 6.5-hectare lot in barangay Paknaan is being readied as relocation site.

Those who don’t accept relocation will be given financial aid.

Tony Pet Juanico, head of the Mandaue City demolition team, said a P17, 000 fund is already processed by the city government.

He said the group opposing the transfer counts only 40 out of the 1,200 affected families and he can’t afford to sacrifice the rest of Mandauehanons who usually suffered floods during rainy season.

Earlier this month, Assistant Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago inspected the relocation site after some urban poor residents opposing eviction said it was a swamp and timberland area.

The Philcadan settlers live along the Mahiga Creek behind the San Miguel Corp. compound.

Santiago was accompanied by opposing parties: the Mandaue city government represented by city administrator James Abadia and the complainants represented by Roberto Letaba, leader of the relocation beneficiaries.

She issued recommendation to the Department of Environment or the Bureau of Lands to determine the status of the land.

Letaba and 19 other residents of sitio Rosal in barangay Orel (formerly Philcadan area) were found to be encroaching the three-meter easement of a river in barangay Banilad.

City legal officer Jamal Calipayan said the Mandaue city government is ready to face any complaints, because what they after is the safety of the residents.