Sitio Marna residents seek Mandaue gov’t aid over house demolition

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Members of the Sitio Marna Homeowners Association in Barangay Subangdaku went to Mandaue City Hall on Wednesday, July 8, to seek government intervention over the demolition of their homes.

Affected resident Marvin Ellraiz, who has lived in the area for four years, appealed for a settlement area or temporary shelter, especially for families with children attending school.

“Mangayo lang unta mi’g tabang nga kung asa mi mabutang ug makakuan ug tarong nga tulogan. Lisod kaayo kay naa mi mga studyante namo,” said Ellraiz.(We are just asking for help so we can have a place to stay and a decent shelter. It’s very difficult because we have children who are students.)

READ: Mandaue halts private demolition over legality concerns

Another resident, Jun Abellanosa, alleged that the demolition team of a private company continued its operations and extended the demolition area by about 11.2 meters beyond the original wall.

He claimed that more than 100 houses had already been demolished and appealed for assistance, including temporary shelter and food for displaced families. He said many residents are now sleeping along the roadside while students have no proper place to stay.

The group formally submitted a position paper and a list of demands to members of the Mandaue City Council, seeking government intervention over the demolition, which began on June 24.

In their position paper, the residents alleged that the demolition was carried out without a valid writ of demolition and without due process, as required under Republic Act No. 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act.

They also claimed that masked members of the demolition team threatened and harassed residents during the operation and used heavy equipment.

The homeowners are calling for an investigation into the demolition, the establishment of clear legal protocols, and the provision of legal and humanitarian assistance from the Mandaue City government and Barangay Subangdaku.

READ: HUDO personnel demolish 25 structures in Mandaue’s Paknaan

The residents argued that since the demolition allegedly lacked sufficient legal basis, they should be allowed to rebuild their homes in Sitio Marna. They said the government should explore legal options, including possible negotiations with the property owner, to allow affected families to return while ensuring that proper legal processes are followed.

They are also seeking temporary shelter, compensation for damages, housing materials, and relocation to an area near their workplaces with access to basic services.

The residents likewise appealed for continued consultations and government intervention to address their concerns.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO) said it is coordinating assistance for affected residents.

HUDO Executive Assistant Ramelito Inopiquez said the city government does not support any further demolition beyond the original area covered by the private demolition team’s operations, particularly outside the fenced property, to avoid possible conflict and further displacement of residents.

The office advised affected residents to seek legal counsel to determine the appropriate legal action regarding the demolition and the alleged violations committed by the demolition team.

HUDO has recorded around 174 affected households inside the fenced area.

Inopiquez said some affected families have already received initial assistance, including rice and canned goods. The office is identifying residents who are registered in Mandaue City to determine possible additional assistance, including relocation options.

He clarified that some affected residents are registered in Cebu City, while around 30 households have so far been identified as Mandaue City residents.

HUDO also said it has yet to verify the legal documents presented by the property representatives, noting that the office was only informed that a case filed in 2016 had already been resolved and that the clearing operation was carried out only this year.

“Wala gyud ta kahibaw nga kung unsa nga kompleto nga papeles nila (private company) kay wala man tay nakita, base sa ilang statement humana kuno ni nga kaso 2016, ang problema wala nila naclearing atong panahona karun pa,” said Inopiquez.(We really don’t know whether they have complete legal documents because we haven’t seen any. Based on their statement, the case was supposedly resolved in 2016. The issue is that they did not carry out the clearing operation at that time—it was only done now.)

He added that the property representatives had committed to providing financial assistance, but the amount and other details have yet to be finalized pending the submission of a complete list of affected households.

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