‘Families Violated the Law’

Twenty-two families whose houses are constructed beneath a bridge at B. Rodriguez Street beside the Guadalupe River in Barangay Sambag 2 have been ordered by the Cebu City government to immediately demolish their structures.

Jose Daluz, the mayor’s representative to the Cebu City Rivers Management Council, had already issued 10 day-notice to the concerned families last August 14, although the city still had not make further move.

Daluz, who used to be a councilor in Cebu City, said the investigation and ocular inspection conducted by the personnel of the City Rivers Management Council showed that the concerned families had violated laws by constructing houses under the bridge.

He said Section 23 of the Revised Philippine Highway Act, Article 51 of the Water Code of the Philippines and Article 694 of the Civil Code of the Philippines and City Ordinance 1481 prohibits the construction of houses under the bridge and within the three-meter easement of creeks.

“In the interest of public safety and the common good, you are hereby notified to voluntarily remove or demolish your illegal structures within 10 days from receipt of this notice, otherwise we will take appropriate measures to remove the said illegal structures and charge to you the corresponding costs we would incur and we will also resort to proper sanctions provided by the existing laws,” the notices reads.

It prompted the concerned families headed by Ildefonso Bacunawa to write a letter addressed to Mayor Michael Rama to give them sufficient time to abandon their place because their children are still studying in different nearby schools.

“Among gihangyo kanimo mayor nga hatagan mo kami og relocation site nga duol ra kay ang among anak intawon nag-eskuyla pa luoy man usab kon sila paundangon sa pagtungha,” Bacunawa said.

The clearing of the three meter easement of the Guadalupe River is one of the dreams of the mayor because he want to establishment a passage where people can walk passing beside the creek from Barangay Guadalupe to Barangay Pasil in downtown area.

The City Council also referred the matter to the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) for further help that can be provided to the concerned families.