CEBU CITY, Oct. 6 (PNA) — The cities of Cebu and Mandaue have created a joint committee for the removal of houses and other illegal structures within the three-meter easement zone on both sides of Mahiga Creek, the natural boundary between the two cities.
The creation of the committee was decided in a meeting between Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortez last Friday, together with other officials of the two cities.
Cebu City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo and his counterpart in Mandaue City are members of the committee.
Lawyer Jose Daluz III, the executive assistant of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, was designated as the sole spokesman of the group for uniform information dissemination.
Daluz said four representatives from the Mandaue City government and a similar number from the Cebu City Government will discuss how to speed up the removal of illegal structures along Mahiga Creek.
Cortez has also agreed to the demolition of the 22 illegally constructed foot bridges at the creek that connect the two cities as these obstruct the flow of water.
Daluz said the creaiton of the committee showed the coordination between the two local government units in clearing the Mahiga Creek, one the causes of flooding in Cebu City.
Daluz, head of the Reduce Danger Zone-River (ReDZ-R) in Cebu City, said it was found out during their inspection that several illegal structures are constructed on the side of Mandaue City.
A law prohibits the construction of any structures within the three-meter easement from the side of creeks and rivers. (PNA)