City Hall eyes relocation site for Mambaling fire victims

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government is planning to move the victims of a recent fire in Barangay Mambaling who are mostly members of the Badjao community to a new relocation site.

Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo, who heads the Task Force Pabahay, disclosed that in its latest meeting, the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) is looking at a possible site in Barangay Inayawan.

“Naa na silay nakuan nga possible area didto sa (Brgy.) Inayawan, atbang sa landfill, kadto gihapon kanang submerged lang gihapon siya nga area (sa dagat),” Guardo said.

Guardo said that the task force is also taking into consideration the Badjaos' culture and tradition.

“Anha man gud sila mo-thrive gyud sa mga submerged, so mao to ang gi-propose nga relocation site sa City Planning,” Guardo said.

A data from the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) showed a total of 195 families affected by the recent fire in Mambaling that are currently sheltered at the Viking Gym.

Guardo said two technical working groups will be tasked to look into the planned relocation site, with one group focusing on the engineering side and the other one for the environmental matters.

“Once the plan is already finalized and put in place altogether, then, everybody from the different technical working groups will immediately convene and mobilize na,” said Guardo.

“All these things should be incorporated sa planning with the City Planning, engineering, and environmental aspects. So, all will convene for the presentation with the mayor by Wednesday next week. And whatever is the decision of Mayor Raymond Garcia, then everybody must move for the implementation, execution (of the plans), and then the relocation of those affected families,” he added.

Aside from that, Guardo disclosed that the Malaysian Government is also willing to shell out funds for the fire victims’ new homes.

“They are willing to fund…the construction of the stilt houses. So, that’s a welcome development,” Guardo said. — /JG(FREEMAN)