Mandaue starts Orel demolition

Clearing of waterways to continue till Dec. 7 in barangay Maguikay, Tabok and Paknaan Cebu Daily News

A government demolition crew started taking down 15 of 130 houses in barangay Banilad, Mandaue City despite verbal protests of residents who pleaded to spare their houses because Christmas was near.

Some families chose to dismantle their own houses to avoid trouble.

Demolition work will resume in sitio Orel at 8 a.m. today as part of the citys effort to clear danger zones like creeks and easement zones of informal settlers.

Tonypet Juanico, housing and home site regulation officer, said Dec. 7 is the target date to clear the site and other inhabited areas in barangays Maguikay and Tabok (74 houses) and Paknaan (60 houses).

As early as 6 a.m., residents of houses built along a three-meter easement and danger zone of a waterway in sitio Orel gathered near the gates of San Miguel Corporation and blocked the entry of vehicles, including the food conglomerates delivery trucks.

The standoff lasted throughout the morning as a representative of the affected residents, Roberto Lebata, tried to negotiate a stay of the demolition with authorities.

He spoke with Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino, deputy police director and Cynthia Suico, community affairs officer of the Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO).

The demolition proceeded at around 2 p.m.

Representatives of the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor (PCUP) and the Commission for Human Rights (CHR), were present to ensure that the operation was carried out in a humane manner.

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Mandaue starts Orel demolition