From City’s annual budget Exec eyes P60M for informal settlers

CEBU, Philippines - Since the 6.5-hectare relocation site in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City can only accommodate 1,200 beneficiaries, the Housing and Urban Development Office is asking P60 million to be incorporated in the 2015 Annual Budget of the city.

During a press conference, HUDO Chief Tonypet Juanico said during the 2015 Annual Budget deliberation, he asked for the same amount of budget from the city to be used as financial assistance to 2,800 informal settlers still currently living in the city's danger zones.

These identified informal settlers are currently living near the riverbanks and creeks of the city, particularly the Butuanon River, the Mahiga Creek, Tipolo and Mantuyong creeks wherein waters in these places rise and cause heavy flooding during rainy days.

Juanico said the only way to entice these informal settlers to move out from danger zones is to give them financial assistance equivalent to minimum wage times 60 days.

But Juanico clarified that only qualified and not extended families can avail of the financial assistance.

The cash aid can also be given only to informal settlers who have lived in the dangers zones before 1992.

Those living in the area after 1992 will be provided with livelihood programs by the city.

The number of informal settlers in Mandaue City was identified after a cloud burst occurred in Metro Cebu last January 25, 2011 wherein most of the places in the area were flooded.

After the incident, the city government has been working on identifying the settlers and taking initiatives to move them out of danger areas.

Aside from the proposed P60 million budget, Juanico also asked for another P25 million for a drainage facility in the settlers' relocation site in Barangay Paknaan.