55 houses destroyed as demolition starts

The demolition of 174 houses inside the 3-meter easement of Mahiga Creek in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City started.

Yesterday at least 55 houses were demolished affecting at least 55 families or at least 220 individuals in sitio San Isidro II.

Noel Artes, head of the Squatters Prevention, Elimination and Encroachment Division (Speed), said yesterday’s demolition was peaceful as they cleared the sides of the Mahiga Creek of 25 houses while 30 other houses were voluntarily destroyed by their owners.

Concepcion Ariba, 43, whose two-story house was one of those demolished yesterday, said seeing her house destroyed hurt.

“I’m sad. My husband and I worked to build that house. But we don’t have a choice because it’s what the government ordered,” said Ariba in Cebuano.

Ariba, together with her 5 children, said they will sleep outside their demolished house.

“Magsardinas na lang siguro mi ana. Bahalag pait. Agwantahon,” she said.

She wished that the city government will speed up the promised relocation sites for them.

Artes said that tomorrow, they will still continue their demolition operation until the 174 houses will be cleared.

They have already marked the part with a blue arrow to identify the area of the houses that are within the 3-meter easement.

Artes added that relocation willl be provided at the existing relocation sites of the city.

He however said the Department of Social Welfare and Services(DSWS) will still have to qualify the list of the affected families.

Last week, several residents already did not wait for the demolition and dismantled their own houses.