Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday agreed to give temporary shelter to 147 illegal settlers living along the Mahiga Creek whose houses were demolished or about to be demolished in the coming days by the city government.

Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon, chairman of the housing committee, said no details about the temporary shelter were discussed during the meeting with Mayor Rama yesterday.

?We are still going to plan and meet with the details. But we want it as soon as possible,? he said.

Rama, however, assigned the Division of the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), City Planning Office, local housing board to organize the temporary shelter for the illegal settlers.

The city government had already cleared at least 40 houses built along the three meter easement of the Mahiga Creek. They had yet to demolish at least 100 more houses along the creek.

Dizon said the mayor remained firm on his stand not to give financial assistance to the illegal settlers believing that they would abuse this assistance.

?It's sad news,? said Dizon.

Rama however agreed to conduct a strategic planning session together with the local housing board to discuss the housing problem in the city.

Dizon said he asked Mayor Rama to hold a dialogue with the illegal settlers before clearing the houses.

Rama also denied allegations that a big mall was behind the city's campaign to clear Mahiga Creek in barangay Mabolo.

?I could recall that I read in a paper insinuating that a mall is behind me in the clearing procedure in Mahiga Creek clearing. That is not true, we all know that Mahiga (clearing) is a result of a flood that happened not so long ago,? Rama said.

He cited barangay Bulacao where the city government also did clearing operations.