Scrapping of access ramp saves 1T families from demolition

AROUND a thousand families living along the coastal areas of Cebu City will no longer be displaced when the CebuCordova bridge project starts, Cebu City Hall said.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) chief Genevieve Alcoseba said that it was agreed upon during their meeting with representatives of Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC) yesterday that access along the Guadalupe River will not push through.

“Good news nga ang katong sa una nga gikahadlokan nga ramp nga makaaffect og more or less 1,000 ka panimalay dili na gyod madayon (The plan to build the ramp that was feared to affect 1,000 houses won’t push through),” Alcoseba said.

It was former mayor Michael Rama who suggested that an additional access to the bridge will be built to allow those coming from V. Rama Ave. to directly access the third bridge.

Representatives of MPTDC earlier said they can just focus on the access at the South Road Properties (SRP) and built the Guadalupe access later on.

However, the additional structure would mean that around 1,000 families in Barangays Ermita, Pasil, Sawang Calero and Pahina San Nicolas will be relocated.

Alcoseba said it is also the stand of Mayor Tomas Osmeña that people should not be displaced there.

She said Osmeña doesn’t want to add to the burden of the people, that’s why he will allow them to stay.

Alcoseba also said the City has not enough relocation sites for the displaced families.

The approach of the bridge in Cebu City side will not also affect houses along Barangay Pasil, since it will be placed at the portion of SRP.

“Basically, they will stick to the original plan of the third bridge,” Alcoseba said.

Alcoseba said that to allay fear of the affected families, DWUP will conduct an information campaign about the new development to the affected barangays starting tonight.

“We will inform them that the construction of the ramp in their area will no longer continue,” she said.