Evicted families to get own lots

CEBU, Philippines — About 10 families who were living at the mouth of Estero de Parian in downtown Cebu City are set to get a land they can call their own, after the city gave them a permanent relocation site in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City.

It was reported earlier that there would be about 12 families that had been sent notices for clearing soon.

However, after verification, the city learned that there was a couple that got two slots, as both the husband and the wife submitted themselves for the interview.

Each family is only allowed to claim one slot of 28 square meters each.

Division of Welfare for the Urban Poor’s Joseph Ylaya disclosed the good news during the coordination meeting of the Task Force-Gubat sa Baha, together with Barangay San Roque officials, City Legal Office, DSWS, CCRRMO, DEPW, Police Stn 3, DGS, DPS, and DEP-ED Cebu City.

These families will be relocated at Sitio Nangkaville in Quiot, Pardo this Wednesday, said PROBE Head Aderson Comar to The FREEMAN earlier.

The dwellings of these families were supposed to be cleared last week, but their permanent relocation site had been prepared yet.

Affected families were also hoping for the Cebu City government to also give them some financial assistance.

The city government has been focused in its battle against flooding by taking out river dwellers and clearing structures that are obstructing the city’s waterways first.

Aside from the 10 families though, hundreds of other families are expected to be transferred as the city looks at recovering the three-meter easement of the city rivers.

A medium-rise building is also being planned for these affected residents.

The city government is also assisting those families who opt to return to their original provinces after trying their luck in Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)