Sitio Dakit residents snub inaccessible relocation site

CEBU - The relocation site for residents of sitio Dakit just wasn’t good enough and now the Cebu City Disaster Council is looking for another place where they can be relocated away from the threats of flooding.

The residents of the sitio of barangay Guadalupe were originally brought to sitio Mahayahay, but they refused to move there since the place is inaccessible.

The CCDC along with a contingent from the Philippine Marines went to the area to set up tents and lighting facilities to help make life easier for the families that were to be relocated, but nobody came.

The families instead decided to stay at the Guadalupe Sports Complex.

Councilor Gerry Carillo, chairman of the CCDC, said that they will meet with the officials of Landco, the developer of Monterrazas de Cebu today to discuss an alternate relocation site.

The residents of sitio Dakit have been forced to flee their homes as the place was flooded after recent heavy rains.

While they blame the nearby subdivision development for their plight, it was also found out that the families put up homes in an area, which was a natural waterway.

This forced acting city mayor Michael Rama to order their forced evacuation for their safety.

Carillo said that the affected families will have to stay at the sports complex for the meantime until a relocation site will be available.

“We will have to prepare everything for them before their transfer and we will be negotiating with Landco to address their problem,” Carillo said.

The councilor added that they will have to get the tents that they have set up for the residents in sitio Mahayahay and prepare for another relocation site that will be available for them.

“Maglisod man sila kay layo kaayo and walay sakyanan nga muagi. We understand their plight that is why we will be providing another relocation site,” Carillo said.

Rama earlier ordered the relocation of the families after findings from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) confirmed that their area is a natural waterway.

The Cebu City Council has also declared sitio Dakit a calamity area since it had been flooded twice. — Jasmin R. Uy/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)