Families affected by airport project now ready for relocation

By Erly C. Garcia

Families affected by the construction of the New Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP) in the tri-boundaries of San Miguel, Cabatuan, and Sta. Barbara could now heave a sigh of relief.

Mario Andon of the Airport Concern Alliance (ACA) revealed that the government has acceded to their demand that the relocation site for the Project Affected Families (PAFs) be given to them for free and that they be given financial assitance for their housing materials.

Andon said the affected families will receive P50,000 each as financial assistance.

There are 110 families affected by the airport project who are about to be relocated in the government relocation site in Brgy. Banggit, Cabatuan, Iloilo.

Andon learned that the money amounting to P5.5 million is already with the National Housing Authority (NHA) and is now ready for release.

Andon also expressed gratefulness that they now have representation in three important committees that was kept from them before.

Josephine Teoresca sits in the Resettlement Management Committee, Susan Teoresca in the Manpower Committee and Maximo Mana-ay sits in the Multi-partite Monitoring Team.

Having representatives in said committees, Andon is optimistic the needs of the affected families could be heard.

Andon said they are now focusing on the provision of livelihood to the affected families when the international airport starts operating later on.