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After the cries of relief and joy following their meeting with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, barangay Apas residents are still bothered by her insistence during their closed-door meeting that Presidential Proclamation 409 which anchors their right as socialed housing beneficiaies is ?invalid.?
Garcia?s statement was made during Thursday?s meeting with representatives of the Alliance of Barangay Apas Community Association (ABACA).
While she promised not to evict them, she emphasized that the document signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003 was ?null and void?.
ABACA vice president Rebecca Flordeliz told Cebu Daily News that Garcia pointed out that the president has no right to declare it a socialized housing because the land was owned by the Province of Cebu. Garcia explained that the President only signed the documents as assurance that the Province of Cebu would ?take care? of the 1,200 households.
?She stressed that PP409 violates the deed of donation to Centcom because the military reservation was only for military purposee. According to her it did not serve its purpose because it was converted as a housing site so there is an obvious violation of the donation (of the land by the province),? Flordeliz added.
?In fact imposible kaayo nga gi allow sa presidente nga ang iya mismo secretary sa Department of National Defense (DND) og si Vice President Noli De Castro nga mupirma sa MOU kung wala kuno makahibaw ang presidente nga null and void diay ni,? said Flordeliz, recalling the governor?s statements.
ABACA, however, appreciated Garcia?s move to consider their previous proposal for on-site development in Blocks A and B of the site.
During the dialog, the governor agreed to relocate 120 families in the 3.4 hectare area in Block A located in sitio Rotunda to be relocated in the 17 hectare Block B.
Block B is composed of sitios Plaza, Mahayahay, Panabang and Calvary, and could house about 800 households. Block C is fully packed. The barangay hall, health center, two public schools, and 200 households is located in Block C.
Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman said 90 percent of the households in sitio Rotunda are registered in barangay Banilad. This issue will have to be settled in a meeting with Banilad barangay captain, Malou Tibar and the households.
Sitio Rotunda is located within barangay Apas and Banilad. It lies on a slope and is located near a river.
ABACA representatives will meet with the governor on Nov. 20 to discuss a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA).
Ayuman said he believes Garcia's sincerity in giving PP409 beneficiaries security of tenure. He said he believes there will be no need to come up with another MOA. Reporter Marian Z. Codilla
