Resisting relocation •
Residents seek support from city to back fight vs land claims
RESIDENTS from Brgy. 76-A Bucana heed assistance from the 20th city council and city mayor Sebastian Duterte to back them in their fight against a private land developer.
Ecoland Properties and Development Corporation (EPDC), according to the residents, claims the area where they currently reside.
Marietta R. Tabaranza, 62, Times Beach Labor Association secretary since 2018 said the developer filed a case for recovery of possession. Tabaranza is among one of the residents in the barangay who received an individual demand letter to vacate in 2018.
“Pati akong permit na jeopardize, kay ila man giinform ang business bureau nga I am occupying without the consent of the owner. Paano maging owner [mo] nga kami naa mi foreshore lease?,” Tabaranza said.
Foreshore lease is an agreement executed between the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources and the applicant to occupy, develop and manage a foreshore land.
Tabaranza recalled they were only given 15 days to vacate the area that they are currently occupying and to restore the possession to the owner.
Dylinda Ravanes, representative of Liza’s Restaurant, recalled that the forefathers of her husband were the first to set foot on the contested area. They developed the land and knew it was not owned by anyone.
Ravanes stands firm that she will not sign the agreement proposed to them as this was not enough to compensate for moving to another location where they can start all over again,.
Residents who had no financial capability to counter the case filed against them decided to surrender and entered a settlement agreement with EPDC. Ravanes said they will not be among them.
The settlement agreement with waiver states that the defendant agrees to vacate the portion of land and turn over the same to EPDC, and he/she will be given a 60 square meters relocation lot at Brgy. Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District.
It further states that he/ she will vacate said portion within 30 days from turnover date of relocation lot to him/her. He/she will also be given P20,000 cash assistance and transportation during transfer.
Refusal of the resident to vacate even after the turn over of relocation lot and financial aid grant, shall allow the EPDC to remove and demolish the structure without any court order.
Out of 3,000 residents, some 906 already signed the said agreement and 50% was duly notarized by the court.