Fernandez dares city: demolish office

THE head of a nongovernment organization yesterday challenged the Cebu City government to demolish their office, which an official said lies within a three-meter easement zone.

“For our part, we are helping the Mahiga Creek settlers. Now, if our office has committed lapses, then let it be demolished,” said Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, president of Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc.

Collin Rosell, head of the city’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWU), earlier said Pagtambayayong’s office at P. del Rosario Extension is within three meters of the Guadalupe River.

He said this was the reason Fernandez and Pagtambayayong defended the Mahiga Creek settlers who also violated the law that calls for a three-meter easement zone from any waterway.

Rosell pointed this out after the DWUP recommended that the city legal office sue Pagtambayayong for allegedly requiring urban poor residents to buy housing plans from the foundation before availing of city-owned lots.

Fernandez, a former city administrator, denied the accusation and dismissed Rosell’s claims.

Meanwhile, Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district questioned the timing of the investigation of Fernandez.

Osmeña pointed out that Pagtambayayong dealt with the complainants during the administration former mayor Alvin Garcia.

Osmeña said he was prepared to help Fernandez, a good friend, should the city government under mayor Michael Rama file a complaint against him.

Osmeña said when he was mayor he did not favor Fernandez and Pagtambayayong over other groups.

“Basically, anyone who wanted to do housing, we helped them.”

However, he said Pagtambayayong stood out among the other NGOs because of Fernandez’s expertise in organizing the urban poor.