Tejero residents clear area

Residents along C. Arellano Boulevard in barangays Tejero and Tinago in Cebu City voluntarily demolished their own homes two weeks after Mayor Tomas Osmeña ordered to postpone the implementation of a clearing order in that area.

The families that did so were given P5,000 each in financial assistance from the city government.

According to Tejero Barangay Captain Hermogenes Galang Jr., the assistance came from the city government through executive assistant Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez.

It was former Tejero barangay captain and new-elected Tejero councilman Jessielou Cadungog who wrote a letter request to Mayor Tomas Osmeña to give financial assistance to families that voluntarily tore down their own houses.

“Sa tibuok Cebu City nga dunay gipangdemolish sa sidewalk, Sitio Silangan ra g’yud maoy natagaan og financial assistance gikan sa gobyerno, kay kanang demolition wala gyud tay relocation assistance basta sidewalk,’’ Cadungog said. Osmeña granted his request and gave P190,000 in assistance to the 38 families who demolished their houses in Sitio Silangan.

‘’Ang pamaagi kutob sa moguba tagaa’g P5,000 per family, ig guba sa balay mo anhi sila diri, sa barangay hall, mo dala mi’g representative didto aron motan-aw, human balik diri tagaan na siya sa among treasurer unya mopirma,’’ Galang said.

Based on their list, there are 120 families to be affected by the clearing order.

The barangay also said it is willing to help those families that have demolished their homes find a new relocation site; they offered their barangay vehicles to be used in transferring the residents.

There were also residents who insisted on staying where they are.

Leonilo Pilar, President of the Loot II Sitio Silangan Residents Homeowners Association, said they will plan to ask the Regional Trial Court for another seven-day Temporary Restraining Order after the RTC approve their request for a 72-hour TRO against the implementation of the demolition of their houses.

Pilar also hopes to have dialog with Osmeña together with the barangay officials and residents of the sitio. —

Carl James T. Cabarles, USJ-R intern/BRP