Only 2K of 14,009 structure owners near rivers given demolition notices

THE Cebu City Government has distributed demolition notices to 2,000 people who own structures that encroach on the three-meter easement of the city’s waterways.

But this is far from its target of distributing demolition notices to a total of 14,009 structures that were identified by the city government.

Due to this, personnel of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) and the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) are set to resume the distribution of demolition notices to structure owners within the month.

CCDRRMC chairman Gerry Carillo, who was tasked by Mayor Michael Rama to implement the clearing of three-easement zones, said he had temporarily halted the issuance of demolition notices when former Environment secretary Roy Cimatu formally assumed as chairman of the city’s Task Force Gubat sa Baha (War on Flood).

However, he said the mayor ordered him to continue informing affected owners to voluntarily remove their structures or have these demolished by the City Government.

“The mayor wants secretary Cimatu to lead the battle against floods while I lead the battle against three-meter easement violators. So I will continue meeting owners of illegal structures. We will go ahead and serve notices to violators of the three-meter easement,” he said in a mix of Cebuano and English.

Biz establishments not exempted

Carillo said they are also working with owners of business establishments located along the waterways to determine where the three-meter easement starts and ends and to find out if they are violating the law.

The former Cebu City councilor said each affected owners will receive financial assistance amounting to P34,000 from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

He said the budget was already downloaded to the City Government.

He said affected owners will need to coordinate with the Division on the Welfare of the Urban Poor to claim the financial assistance.

He said the office of City Councilor Jerry Guardo will also help process the documents of structure owners living in the north district, while the office of City Councilor Dondon Hontiveros will take care of those living in the south district.

Priority

CCDRRMO head Raquel Bohol-Arce said their clearing operation is prioritizing structures along the Kinalumsan River from Barangay Mambaling to C. Padilla St. where 95 percent of the illegal structures have already been demolished.

She said they’ve only cleared 20 percent of the river’s stretch in Barangay Duljo-Fatima.

Arce said they target to clear all illegal structures along the city’s waterways, including those along the Lahug River, Bulacao River, Estero Parian, Butuanon River and Guadalupe River, among others.