9,554 families from 37 Albay barangays to be resettled

LEGAZPI CITY – To prevent a repeat of the tragedy caused by typhoon “Reming” last year, at least 9,554 families residing in 37 lahar-threatened and flood-prone villages around Mayon Volcano in Albay will be moved to resettlement sites.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has identified these sites as safe from mudslides and rampaging floodwaters.

Cedric Daep, chief of the Provincial Disaster Management Office, said the concerned local government officials gave a list of the affected families during a recent meeting of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC). 

Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez said he has sought technical assistance from the National Housing Authority in developing the relocation sites before the houses and other structures are constructed there.

Gonzalez, however, said the provincial government has yet to acquire some of the MGB-identified sites which are privately owned.

“We still have to negotiate some of these sites. We hope (their landowners) would respond favorably,” he said.

Set for total evacuation and permanent resettlement are 5,397 families from the villages of Alcala, Banadero, Kilicao, Malobago, Matnog and Miisi, all in Daraga town.

Partial evacuation would affect residents of Banag, Binitayan, Budiao, Busay, Culliat, Salvacion, and Tagas, also in Daraga town, as well as at least 900 families from Maipon, Maninila, Tandarora, Morera, Travesia, San Rafael, and San Francisco, all in Guinobatan town.

Also to be resettled are 829 families from the villages of Lidong, San Antonio, and San Isidro, all in Sto. Domingo town; and 1,428 families from the villages of Anoling, Gapo, Libod, Quirangay, Salugan, and Sua, all in Camalig town.

In Legazpi City, at least 1,000 families from Arimbay, Bogtong, Padang, Bonga, Buyuan, Mabinit and Matanag are affected.

Daep said the resettlement sites are located in Barangays Taysan in Legazpi City (11 hectares); Peñafrancia, Tabon-Tabon and Anislag in Daraga (36 hectares); San Andres in Sto. Domingo (21 hectares); Fidel V. Ramos in Camalig; and Binogsacan, Banao, and Mauraro in Guinobatan.

PDCC records show that at least 112,000 houses, mostly located along coastlines and in lahar-devastated areas, were totally destroyed, while 67,000 others were damaged due to super typhoon “Reming.”

During the tragedy, 6,308 families were evacuated to 92 centers, mostly partially damaged classrooms, in 561 villages.

Meanwhile, Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said a team from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will construct some 400 temporary shelters at the Ibalong Village in Barangay Taysan for the families rendered homeless by “Reming” in the city.

“We are calling this a transition area. These houses made of light materials will be built by the carpenters from MMDA,” Rosal told The STAR.

Rosal said the residents of Barangay Padang, where members of over 250 families were either killed or reported missing when “Reming” triggered rampaging mudflows from the slopes of Mayon Volcano, will be given priority in the temporary shelters.