A CLASH between the residents’ right to shelter and a state university’s property rights has made unlikely allies of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Lahug Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos.

They both believe the University of the Philippines-Visayas Cebu College (UPVCC) should not use last Tuesday night’s fire as an opportunity to cordon off its property.

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Displaced families, carrying blocks of wood as weapons, blocked security guards and UPVCC representatives when they arrived at 10 a.m. yesterday with barbed wire and this painted notice: “This is a UP property. No trespassing.”

Carlito Mabini, who has lived for 65 years in the UPVCC-owned property, said the university’s action was “very inappropriate and unjust.”

UPVCC property custodian Virgilio Nuñez said that the university continues to assert its claim over an 850-square-meter lot and that barangay officials of Lahug were aware of their expansion plans.

Nuñez, however, said he understood the plight of those who lost their homes in the fire and that the university never meant to take advantage of the situation.

As early as 2007, he said, he and other UPVCC officials conducted several consultations with Lahug residents on the plan to expand the university.

In the meantime, the Cebu City Government will distribute construction materials to the 65 families left homeless by the fire.

Sue

While he is leaving it up to Barangay Captain de los Santos to deal with the problem, Mayor Osmeña said the City will continue giving assistance to the victims.

“The City will let de los Santos solve that problem, as she keeps bragging she doesn’t need the City. When she admits she cannot solve it, then we will step in,” he told Sun.Star in a text message.

City Councilor Gerardo Carillo, City Disaster Coordinating Council action officer, said the City’s Department of Social Welfare Services is verifying the list of families for the distribution of GI sheets and plywood boards.

He said UP should file an ejection case if it wants to remove the residents.

City Administrator Francisco Fernandez, an urban poor organizer, also said that UP should not use the fire or any calamity as an opportunity to clear its property of occupants.

The City, he said, will not allow it, as it could set a “dangerous” precedent.

De los Santos, on the other hand, said that UP cannot just fence off the lot; the residents have told her there is also another claimant to the property.

“Let me remind TRO (Tomas R. Osmeña) that he is the mayor of the City of Cebu, including the fire victims of Barangay Lahug.

It is not in my character to shy away from problems/crisis. I am the barangay captain of Lahug and it is incumbent upon me to face, fend off, address (the problem) and find solutions to the present situation,” she said in a text message.

‘Bloody’

“TRO should not make me a reason for his conditional help to the fire victims. This is not the time to show his immaturity… His action is a big disgrace. I will stand up for my people and do everything to protect their security,” she added.

“I am up to the challenge,” de los Santos said.

She arrived at the scene and talked to the fire victims, reassuring them no one will be displaced.

She encouraged them to clean the gutted area faster so that barangay officials will be able to deliver the housing materials and the families can start rebuilding their houses today.

Fire victim Jane Damos, who has lived for 30 years in the area, said, “They [UPVCC] are adding to the pain the fire victims are feeling now.”

De los Santos said there was no prior notice of UP’s plan to evict the occupants and secure the property, and that the university should look for relocation sites for the people.

“I am very frustrated and disappointed with the insensitivity of the UP administration…I’m reminding the UP administration, if you will push through with your plan, then it will be very bloody,” de los Santos added.

Duty

Alsidry Sharif, UPVCC’s supervising administrative officer and vice-chair of the Anti-Squatters Committee, visited Lahug’s Barangay Hall yesterday and explained the university’s position on the matter.

“We think it’s a government property and as a government employee of UP, it is our duty to secure the area…We only want to delineate our area, the UP area,” he said.

De los Santos, however, said the university is trying to get a shortcut and should not single out the fire victims.

The UPVCC also owns property on the Sunset Drive Ext., Sitio Avocado, and Sitio San Jose in Barangay Lahug.

De los Santos pointed out that when a fire struck Sunset Drive Ext. and Sitio Avocado, the residents were able to go back and rebuild their houses.

Cebu City mayoral aspirant and former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña said the City should consider asking UP to turn over the Lahug campus to the City, in exchange for the South Road Properties (SRP) land the City donated to the university.

When asked if he is willing to negotiate with UP for an exchange, Mayor Osmeña said he will let de los Santos handle the matter. (RHM/LCR/JKV/PDF)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 13, 2009.