News briefs

Court: No return for Luz settlers

ABOUT 32 familes whose homes in barangay Luz, Cebu City were ordered demolished by the court were denied the chance to rebuild and re-occupy the site.

Regional Trial Court Judge Ramon Daomilas of Branch 11 denied the settlers’ plea to re-occupy the area they lived in for several years, saying the resettlement areas in barangays Bulacao and Talamban are “habitable.”

“The fresh air is abundant and basic facilities are in place including lights amnd water aside from the additional artesian well to be placed in the area,” the judge said.

The settlers’ earlier requested the court to allow them to return to barangay Luz until their resettlement area is made “decent and habitable.”

Judge Daomilas said the resettlement sites are accessible and have light and water connections.

“In fact, the three officers of the neighborhood association living in the area told the court that they are happy to welcome the barangay Luz relocatees,” Daomilas said.

The court also noted that a road network is being made. Daomilas said lighting facilities are also in place.  He ordered the court sheriff to proceed with the demolition of the remaining houses.

The relocation areas for the 32 affected families were prepared by the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP).   The settlers claimed to be bona fide occupants of the province-owned lot in barangay  Luz , Cebu City.

They claimed they were unaware about an arrangement entered into by the Cebu City government and the Capitol on a community mortgage program.

The plaintiffs said they didn’t join the program because the conditions were onerous. In 2010, the Supreme  Court ruled with finality upholding the demolition order. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

SRP can host Eucharist Congress—Rama

THE South Road Properties (SRP) can host the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said.

Rama said hosting an international Catholic event at the city-owned lot, which also served as the venue for the Calungsod Thanksgiving Mass last Nov. 30, will be another golden opportunity to promote Cebu City before the world.

Aside from highlighting Cebu’s strong Catholic base, Rama said the Mass also showcased the province’s culture and arts. The Mass drew hundreds of local and foreign tourists into the city. “What had occurred during the Mass had a multiplier effect.  The prominence of Cebu City was highlighted and the unity of the Cebuanos was very pronounced,” the mayor said. “I am confident that all those people who came for the Thanksgiving Mass will return if they have seen that Cebu City was clean and has the infrastructure that they need,” he said. However Rama said the success of hosting the Thanksgiving Mass shouldn’t be credited to the Cebu Archdiocese or the Cebu City government alone but also to the hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful who attended the event. “By having to have another event in the city which is international in nature, we will again take it as a challenge,” he said. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Allowances for police sought

AN unspecified appropriation will be included in Supplemental Budget 3 for the allowances of Cebu City’s police personnel  from August to December this year.

Philip Zafra, a staffmember of the Cebu City Mayor’s Office, said the supplemental budget will be submitted to the City Council this week. The amount covers the P2,000 monthly allowance for the five-month period. About P25 million was earlier proposed for the city’s police and maritime personnel. But the City Council reduced the appropriation by P14 million and approved only P11 million.  Zafra said he already briefed Mayor Rama on this last Friday and the mayor agreed to pass an appropriation for this purpose. Correspondents Chito Aragon and Edison delos Angelesdded. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac