400 squatters get new homes

By Leny G. Gabo

Hundreds of informal settlers, otherwise called 'squattters,' affected by the Iloilo Flood Control Project have been given relocation sites, Roy Firmeza of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office said.

Firmeza said that almost 400 settlers are now being transferred to relocation sites in Barangays Buntatala in Jaro and Sooc in Arevalo district.

The relocation site is provided with good amenities and facilities, Firmeza said.

Each lot, according to him, costs P120,000, payable by the relocatees in 10 years.

Although they have a hard time transferring the affected families, Firmeza is confident that they would finish as scheduled, which would be June 10 this year. Relocation started summer last year.

He said that they are doing massive social information drive to the affected people.

“We admit that we found it hard to explain (the need for relocation) to the affected residents, but now we already have their consensus and they are cooperating,” Firmeza explained.

About 317 families are affected by phase II of the P3.6 billion project, which is already underway.

There are, on the other hand, 2,703 affected familiesunder phase I.

The affected barangays in are Lapuz Sur, Nabitasan, Hinactacan, Ticud and Ingore in La Paz; Taal, Tap-oc and San Pedro in Molo; Tabucan in Mandurriao; and, Tacas, Buhang, Balabago and Bitoon in Jaro.

The project, which is funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, is composed of several phases, all aimed at preventing flooding in Iloilo City.