City's informal settlers up by 15 percent, says Icupao chief
The number of informal settlers in the city has increased by some 15 percent two years after the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (Icupao) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) conducted a survey. In 2006, there are only 2,910 families categorized as informal settlers.
Icupao head Roy Firmeza said the continuing increase in the number of informal settlers was noted after Typhoon Frank. The first increase was noticed in 2007 . He did not give the exact number of families living in riverbanks, creeks and waterways. However, Firmeza said the figure is much higher this year. The informal settlers are the target beneficiaries in the proposed development of three relocation sites in the city.
Firmeza attributed the increase in the number of families living in danger zones whose houses were destroyed by Typhoon Frank. He particularly cited Barangay Desamparados, Jaro. There are families listed in the evacuation centers whose names are not included in the list of informal settlers gathered by the DPWH with the implementation of the Iloilo Flood Control Project.
This early, Firmeza admitted they had a hard time collecting the exact number of informal settlers who are the first priority of the rehabilitation program of the city government by providing them relocation sites and housing units.
The city needs at least P450 million in its proposed housing rehabilitation program. The rehabilitation program includes the development of relocation sites in Barangay Lanit, Jaro; Barangay Sooc, Arevalo and Barangay San Isidro, Jaro; construction of a bridge in Barangay San Isidro; core shelter assistance project and development of Gawad Kalinga housing units. The proposed rehabilitation project is set to start August of 2008 until December 2009 should the budgetary requirements are met by the HUDCC, DPWH and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Firmeza said they have to consolidate all the report related to the informal settlers in each barangay. The Icupao will not rely mainly on the statistics provided by the barangay officials. Icupao staff are tasked to visit and check the list of families released by barangay officials.
The list of barangay officials will be validated by the Icupao staff. After which, it will be compared in the previous lists of occupants in the riverbanks, creeks and waterways. The list from the barangay officials, previous list of informal settlers and on site validation from Icupao will be used as parameters in coming up with a credible list of informal settlers in the city that will qualify for the housing rehabilitation project of the city government, said Firmeza.
The Icupao head likewise proposed that the families living in the danger zones will not be allowed to return to their old housing site. Instead, a communal facility will be constructed in the relocation sites for their use meantime they are constructing their new house.