RESISTING...

Harassed to sign

Brgy. Captain Robert Olanolan, said that the residents are forced by harassment to sign the agreement but are not willing to relocate.

“Daghan kaayong mga nag-attempt nga i-demolish by way of harassment sa mga tao. Ila pa gyung gina select nag mga tao kadtong mga walay alam sa pamalaod, walay mga kwarta to fight the case. Napildi ang mga tao because of technicality,” he said.

Olanolan said these residents have resided in the area for more than 30 years and are supposed to be qualified to apply for a land title.

He reported more than 10,000 households will be affected in the land contested by the EPDC from Kabacan to Times Beach.

The barangay chief said that the source of income of most of the residents are fishing which will be affected if relocated in the mountains.

Brgy. Councilor Randy Ponteras said the residents who signed were threatened that if they would not sign the agreement they will be charged criminally.

“Ang mga katawhan ingnan nga file-an mog kaso, na ma priso pa mo ani, hurawon ba,” he added.

At present, the barangay has provided legal counsel to assist the residents in pushing their rights as actual occupants.

Relocation site

During the first regular session of the city council on Jan. 9, a resolution was endorsed by Committee on Housing, Rural and Urban Development chair, councilor Javi Campos, to enact an ordinance to grant the request of EPDC Counsel Susan Cariaga to re-classify their 20-hectare property in Brgy. Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District from agricultural to socialized housing.

The property willl serve as the relocation site for the residents who signed the settlement agreement.

Cariaga said that the area is not far from basic services needed by the settlers and that it was already endorsed to the Local Zoning

Review Committee.

Third district councilor Alberto Ungab contested on why the property applied for re-classification which will be used for relocation are all located in the creek and ridge areas.

“Why are we converting an agricultural area into a residential area in the middle of nowhere?,” Ungab stressed.

“No roads are there? Who is going to develop the roads? It is too far away from the main road and these two areas are in the middle of an agricultural zone? Are you going to convert to make some residential area in the middle of an agricultural zone?,” he added.

The areas, said Ungab, have no road networks, no public transport and have no accessibility to amenities for residents.

In response, Cariaga disproved that the area is not in the middle of nowhere as there is an access to roads, is complete with electric connection and is within the vicinity of a school, a health center, church and a barangay hall.

“The area is located beside a road and the road network within the property will be taken up during the application for development permit,” Cariaga added.

Cariaga assured that no residents will be placed in the ridge area and that the area is meant for greening and drainage. She added the establishment of road networks will be the responsibility of the developer and not the city.

Cariaga added they will provide basic needs such as water for the residents before they allow entry in the relocation.

Councilors Joseph Zozobrado and Alberto Ungab abstained from voting on the approval of the reclassification as long as there is an assurance from the developer to secure the needs of to-be-relocated residents such as water and road access.

Councilor Javi Campos said in order to reflect the amendments for the application, the item was deferred to the next regular session.