The claims for compensation of families affected by the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project remain under review as Cebu City officials work to determine the payments due to private property owners, with the project’s September 30 loan deadline fast approaching.
Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff of Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, said some affected families have yet to receive compensation for properties used by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
‘There are affected families that have problems because they were not given yet what is due to them,’ Siasar told reporters.
He clarified that the outstanding payments involve affected private properties under the DPWH, rather than claims being processed directly by the Cebu City government.
Siasar said the city has received communication on the matter and is now working to reconcile the concerns, including reviewing the list of affected families and the documentation supporting their claims.
He said Archival had instructed officials to look into the complaints and determine the appropriate compensation based on existing guidelines.
‘The mayor said, ‘okay, I will look at the complaints. And then, give me the list of the affected families. And then, as to the amount, as to how much, we will see if there is proper documentation. And then, if and when it is within the guidelines, we will consider it,” Siasar said.
While some affected families already have places to stay, Siasar said the city recognizes the need to address the compensation that remains due to them.
Asked whether funds would be downloaded to the local government so it could directly pay the affected families, Siasar said this would depend on the applicable guidelines and whether the claims qualify.
Siasar said he had received the latest communication on the issue only last week.
He added that a meeting with the mayor is expected, following an earlier discussion with Archival on the concerns raised by affected families.
The city government is also assessing how the matter will proceed, including whether the concerns would be appealed or addressed through the existing process.
‘We will reconcile,’ Siasar said, adding that the mayor’s office, together with the legislative side of the city government or the office of the vice mayor, would work to ‘cover all bases.’
‘We are moving forward in the preparation,’ he said.
The compensation issue comes as the September 30 deadline for the CBRT loan draws near, putting added urgency on the city’s preparations for the mass transport project. CBRT, a major public transportation infrastructure project for Cebu, requires right-of-way acquisition and affects private properties along its alignment.
Compensation and relocation of affected families have been among the concerns accompanying the project’s implementation.
Siasar did not provide a specific amount or number of families covered by the outstanding claims during the briefing.
He said the city would first have to review the submitted list and supporting documents before determining which claims may qualify for payment under the applicable guidelines. Carmel Pedroza