Luz homeowners want 32 families in eviction case out

“Move out.”

This was the demand made by a homeowners’ association to 32 families in barangay Luz, Cebu City that are facing eviction.

Diosdada Martinez, president of the Mabuhay Homeowners’ Association, said they are opposed to the option of City Hall to purchase the lot presently occupied by the affected residents.

She said the city’s proposal to buy the land for the settlers will create a bad precedent.

“Dili mi mosugot nga paliton sa syudad and yuta nga gipuy-an sa settlers.  (We won’t agree to the city buying the lots in behalf of the settlers.) Martinez told reporters.

Martinez said the homeowners’ association got the land in barangay Luz from the Cebu provincial government.

She said they gave the 32 families a chance to acquire the lots under the Community Mortgage Program but these families either refused to avail of the program or failed to pay the socialized cost for their lands.

“Dili gyud mi magmalinawon. Amo sila gi-convince sa una pagpalit sa yuta apan giingnan mi ‘ngano mamugos man mo?” (We won’t be peaceful if the settlers continue to live in the area. We earlier convinced them to purchase the lot but we were told ‘why would you compel us?’),” Martinez said.

She said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama should clarify the issues to the settlers instead of giving them false hopes.

“Among hangyo niya (Rama), pasabta nang mga tawhana.” (We request Mayor Rama to help the settlers understand the situation),” Martinez said.

She said they’re not amenable to the plan of the city to purchase the lot since they already suffered much due to the case filed by the settlers against them.

“We suffered due to the case for 20 years,” she said.

The Cebu City government requested the court to put on hold the demolition of the houses of 32 families in barangay Luz, Cebu City.

In a pleading, City Hall lawyers said there is no need to compel the settlers to vacate the area.

They said a resolution was approved by Local Housiing Board, requesting the City Council to authorize Mayor Rama to negotiate with the lot owners for the city to buy the property being occupied by the affected residents.

Should the settlers be displaced, the city said they couldn’t provide a relocation site as of now.

The relocation site in barangay Budlaan, Cebu  City will be affected by the construction of the Colon-Cebu Transmission Line Project of the National Grid Power Corp.

Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act provides  that demolition shall not be effected unless there is adequate relocation provided by the local government unit concerned.

Judge Ramon Daomilas ordered the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor to provide a relocation site to the settlers.

“We understand the (city’s) predicament but we can’t delay,” the judge said during the hearing.

He ordered the counsel of the homeowners’ association to submit a written comment on the pleading filed by the city.

Daomilas earlier directed Sheriff Joseph Olmedo to first consult with the lawyers and officers of the homeowners’ association, and local barangay officials in the area before conducting the demolition.

The judge said the discussion should focus on the “reasonableness and practicality of conducting a  demolition  at this time” since the barangay was struck by fire last  May 11. Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter