IT’S BACK TO SQUARE ONE IN S. RUSSIA

It’s back to square one for the city administration for the clearing of Sitio Russia in barangay Bonuan Binloc after the illegal settlers in the area finally rejected the city government’s relocation offer.

The squatters reiterated that their latest demand to relocate “108” families, not 65 families as earlier agreed on, was non-negotiable and the city hall rejected it.

City Legal Officer George Mejia confirmed the final position of the residents, more than 15 days after the city government presented its formal offer at the sala of Regional Trial Court Judge Genoveva Maramba of Branch 44.

“We have complied with all what they wanted and Mayor (Alipio) Fernandez was even willing to waive the P200 rentals, including the ‘sweat’ or labor equity that each family was expected to provide for the construction of their houses,” Mejia said.

This means, Mejia said, that a full-blown trial on the civil case filed by the residents against the city government for attempting to demolish their houses earlier is now inevitable.

At the two parties’ last meeting in the sala of Maramba, the residents of Sitio Russia, represented by lawyer Alan Paguia, insisted that 108 families must be given relocation despite the fact that only 65 families were earlier identified and validated as qualified to be relocated.

City Administrator Alvin Fernandez, who visited the relocation site on Thursday, along with Bonuan Binloc Barangay Captain Ronaldo Torio, confirmed that only 65 families from Sitio Russia are to be relocated based on the series of tagging operations in the area.

“What we are talking about are only 65 families who actually resided in the area but they want the areas where their sari-sari stores, piggery, garages, etc., stood to count as additional entitlement to benefit their extended families,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez said the city government even succeeded in negotiating a usufruct agreement to guarantee the settlers’ permanent occupation of the area.

Lamenting the position of the residents, Mejia said the city government is ready for a court battle and is confident that it can win the case.

Earlier, the settlers showed inclination to accept the compromise agreement that led the city government to begin clearing the proposed resettlement area, a two-hectare lot in Sitio Bagong Baryo, which adjacent to sitio Russia.

Under the plan, one hectare will be used as the home site for 65 families and the other one hectare will be used for park and livelihood projects for the residents.

Mejia said the city government has allotted P8 million to develop the relocation site, of which P6 million was already released.

Judge Maramba earlier suspended the trial of the civil case to give opportunity for the two parties to reach an amicable settlement.

Sitio Russia, a government-owned lot, has been set as the site for the planned Seafood Bangus Processing Plant, a project that will give all small and medium entrepreneurs a venue to process their products for export and create job opportunities.

The site for the processing plant, which will be funded by a grant from the Korean government, has been determined as the most accessible and ideal location as it is just beside the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center as well as the Asian Fisheries Academy.

The city government intends to carry on with the development of the relocation site and Mejia warned that if the residents of Sitio Russia will not relent in their position the housing units will be given to other landless families in the city..#

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