CAGAYAN de Oro City Task Group Demolition tore down illegal structures in Zone 10 in Barangay Canitoan this morning, May 11.
It was a scene of devastation not unlike what a tropical storm would wreak havoc. But this was man-made.
The task group tore down makeshift structures lining the side of the road and at the edge of the riverbank in the area. About a dozen structures were included in the clearing operation.
In an interview, lawyer Jose Edgardo ‘Egay’ Uy, chairman of the Task Group Demolition, said they based the demolition order on a Department of Interior and Local Government 085-2022, the Implementation of Road Clearing in the New Normal.
“Kining demolition karon, ato ning gi himo pinasubay gihapon sa road clearing nga activity, pinasubay sa DILG memorandum,” Uy said.
Uy said the area where the illegal structures were erected was actually for a road and the same structures along its supposed sidewalk were built on the easement along the river.
“So, no-build zone gihapon,” he added.
However, Ruby Madriaga, zone president and Habitat for Humanity community president claimed that they were not informed ahead of the demolition.
“Insigida sila nagpadala og demolish. wala sila'y formal nga letter ila ko istoryahon una ayha dayon sila nag demolish. Pag abot three days dala na pud sila og letter. Pusot-pusot na ilang letter sa akoa, nga demolish na daw,” Madriaga said in an interview at the demolition site.
Madriaga owns one of the semi-permanent structures that was torn down during the demolition.
All of the demolished structures were owned by CVOs in Zone 10, who supplemented their income by conducting business in the area.
Uy explained that the task group did not single out any organization but was only implementing the city’s Building Code.
