Dredging of Jaro creek to displace 584 houses
Five hundred eighty-four houses along the creek from Dungon B, Jaro until Magsaysay Village, Lapaz will be displaced once the city government starts with the dredging of the creek as part of its flood control measure.
The dredging works will be funded by the city’s share in the Paglaum Fund.
The 584 identified houses will be relocated to the city’s different relocation sites. The Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (Icupao) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are now coordinating with the affected families, said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The dredging works covering 13 barangays in Jaro and Lapaz, starting from Dungon B until Magsaysay will be funded by the city’s P50 million share from the Paglaum Fund, the rehabilitation fund intended for Panay and Negros islands which were hardly hit by Typhoon Frank last year. The destruction brought about by Typhoon Frank in June 2008 has placed Iloilo City under the state of calamity.
Treñas said the city’s relocation sites are ready to accommodate the affected families as soon as the demolition of the houses along the creeks starts. No final date has been set yet for the demolition.
The dredging of the creeks which is vital in the flood control program of the city was then recommended by the chief executive to be incorporated in the phase II of the Iloilo Flood Control Project. However, his request was denied considering the availability of funds for the flood control project.
The transfer of families living along the creeks particularly in Jaro has been the primary concern of the city government after they were washed out by the flood brought by Typhoon Frank.
Families then living along the river banks and creeks in Jaro are now occupying the San Isidro relocation site.