Group donates lot for Yolanda survivors

CEBU, Philippines - In an effort to help the local government unit acquire lots as relocation sites for typhoon victims, a non-government organization donated a16-hectare land area in Bantayan town, Bantayan Island.

The Capitol’s Task Force Paglig-on, a group mandated by the provincial government to monitor the rehabilitation effort in northern Cebu ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda last year, reported that the Medical Action for Relief Counseling and Healing   for Christ donated the lot located in Barangay Sulangan in the said town.

MARCH for Christ is a non-government organization that provides free medical and dental health care and services to indigent Filipinos.

The organization’s president Luis Cusi met Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III at the Capitol last Wednesday.

Both Tribunalo and the governor expressed gratitude over the group’s effort in helping the government in its pursuit of acquiring land for use as resettlement sites for super typhoon victims.

Davide said the purchase and acquisition of land in northern Cebu is the prevailing concern of the government because of some legal impediments.

“We’re very grateful. I told him (Cusi), salamat kaayo ug sa iyang group nga (thank you so much and to your group) MARCH for Christ,” he said, adding that the donated land is titled.

“Lipay kaayo ta ana kay kabalo baya gyod ta nga problema pa gyod nato ang pag-acquire sa mga yuta (We are so happy because acquiring lots for relocation sites is a big problem),” Tribunalo said.

After super typhoon Yolanda struck, the government prohibited the building of permanent structures 40 meters from the coastline, necessitating the need to relocate thousands of families.

However, most areas in northern Cebu, especially in Bantayan Island, are classified as protected areas.

The Capitol had asked the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery to recommend to President Benigno Aquino III to issue a special proclamation declaring the areas identified as relocation sites as alienable and disposable.

OPARR, headed by Secretary Panfilo Lacson, earlier reported that the Department of Justice is now studying the matter.— / RHM (FREEMAN)