City hall finally wins “battle” in Sitio Russia
SITE FOR PROCESSING PLANT READY
PEACE and quiet finally reigns in Dagupan City’s Sitio Russia in Barangay Bonuan Binloc after it was finally cleared of illegal settlers.
But it was not achieved without another clash between the remaining squatters on one side, and the policemen and demolition team on the other for control of the place last Monday.
On Friday, City Legal Officer George Mejia said all’s well that ends well in Sitio Russia – meaning for the city government. For a while, the issue threatened to turn into a series of violent incidents.
Mejia said Sitio Russia has already been completely cleared of houses and its 58of 63 families that used to occupy the area have already voluntarily moved to the relocation site Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville II in Sitio Korea, also in Bonuan Binloc.
There are only five families that remain to be accommodated in the relocation site since the construction of the fives houses had not been completed.
They were assured, nonetheless, by the city hall they can move in soon as the units are finished. Meanwhile, the remaining five families were allowed and agreed to temporarily build tents near the relocation site while awaiting the completion of their assigned housing units.
Two other families chose to return to Baguio and Nueva Ecija where they originated.
Last June 27, personnel of the city government, led by City Administrator Alvin Fernandez, returned to sitio Russia to continue the clearing operations but were met again with resistance by residents.
But like in previous episode of the conflict, Sitio Russia residents capitulated after a brief scuffle between the squatters and the policemen, and after Fernandez himself was reportedly nearly struck with a cut wood by an angry resident at the height of the melee.
Ronaldo Torio, barangay captain of Bonuan Binloc, hailed the decision of the remaining residents to vacate the area to allow the start of the construction of the state-of-the-art Seafood Processing Plant.
“After finally seeing the light, residents of Sitio Russia decided to tear down their own houses. tempered with understanding,” said Torio.
Torio credited City Mayor Al Fernandez’s efforts for the eventual peaceful resolution of the issue.
Mejia, meanwhile, said that with Sitio Russia already cleared, he deemed that the civil case filed by the Sitio Russia Neighborhood Association against the city government moot and academic.
He added that representatives of the Housing and Urban Development Council (HUDC) who went to the resettlement area determined that the newly resettled families from Sitio Russia are happy in their respective housing units.
“Sa totoo lang po, niyayakap ng mga tao si Engr Rosario (Virginia) at nag-iyakan na diyan at nagsabing ang ganda pala ang pinaglipatan ninyo sa amin” said Mejia.
The resettlement area was provided with electricity, water and toilets and a police detachment will soon be set up in the area to maintain peace and order.
The Korean contractor is expected to arrive this month with the pre-fabricated materials for the project.
Mejia said the construction has officially started on July 1 with the construction of the perimeter fence and scheduled to be finished in December, and inaugurated in April in time for the 2010 Dagupan Bangus Festival.-LM
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