CEBU CITY, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay met with officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned agencies on Thursday to discuss the acquisition of land to be used as possible relocation sites for survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Binay, who chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, said they would also discuss the possibility of utilizing certain portions of Bantayan Island as relocation sites.
Bantayan Island has been declared a protected area under Proclamation 2151.
Land acquisition is still a major concern of Yolanda-affected local government units since some areas are covered only by tax declarations.
The Commission on Audit requires land titles instead of tax declarations in purchasing areas to be developed as relocation sites.
“We would like to get to what really is the problem. We will discuss it with DENR,” Binay said.
At least 22,423 households in the 40-meter no-dwelling zone need to be resettled.