Shelter for Mahiga families available

CEBU, Philippines - Informal settlers affected by the clearing operation along Mahiga River may start occupying today the temporary shelter set up by the Cebu City Government at block 27 of the North Reclamation Area.

The temporary shelter will be available for a month and only for families whose structures have already been demolished. The city is providing the temporary shelter while the affected families find a new place to stay.

Some of the affected residents who want to go back to their hometowns within the province will be given assistance through the Provincial Government’s “Balik Probinsya Program.”

Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, chairman of the City Council’s committee on infrastructure, said 50 container vans were provided by 2GO Courier Service. Each van can accommodate 25 persons or one to two families.

The Visayan Electric Company will provide electricity while the Metropolitan Cebu Water District will supply water. Eight showers, sinks and dirty kitchens were also set up.

Occupants will be given free meals for three days only.

Noel Artes, head of the Squatters Prevention Elimination and Encroachment Division (SPEED), said they have provided a master list of the affected families to the Department of Social Welfare and Services.

Affected families must present the notice they received from SPEED as proof that they are affected by the clearing operation.

The notices were provided so there will be no major screening necessary.

DSWS will facilitate the acceptance of occupants at the temporary shelter while the Department of Manpower Development and Placement will be there to collect data on the residents.

For the past week, SPEED has dismantled 28 of the 100 houses along the Mahiga river. However, the families that used to live in the 28 houses preferred to look directly for another place to stay in rather than stay at the temporary shelter. — (FREEMAN)