Demolitions in Mandaue creeks placed on hold

THE demolitions in  rivers and creeks of Mandaue City were put on hold pending the completion of a 6.5-hectare relocation site in barangay Paknaan.

Nevertheless,  the demolition team is  monitoring the three-meter easement zone illegally occupied by  settlers.

City Legal Officer Giovanni Tianero  said  pigpens and restrooms-for-rent were demolished because “these  structures were used to generate income for the informal settlers.”

He noted that settlers were not paying taxes  to the city government.

According to the Urban Development Housing Act (UDHA), individuals  affected by demolition must be provided a relocation site and prior consultation must be observed.

Tianero said government structures built on top or along the river were not touched  to avoid hampering their operations.

He cited the traffic and the police clearance offices of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO).  Tianero said  these have to be  relocated.

Tianero said they are asking settlers to voluntarily take down  their houses especially those structures built on top of the river or  blocking the waterway.

City legal consultant Francisco Amit said the local government could tap  the police to demolish houses along danger zones since these endanger the lives of people but they want to follow the UDHA law. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos