P50M earmarked for riprap work at relocation site

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of  Public Works and Highways-7 has allocated P50 million budget for the construction of a riprap structure in the 6.5-hectare relocation site in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City.

Tonypet Juanico, head of the City Housing and Urban Development Office, said the agency might start with the riprap construction early next year as the city aims to complete the development of the relocation area also next year.

The Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau earlier recommended for the construction of riprap at the relocation site considering that it lies at the Cansaga Bay and on the mouth of Butuanon River.

Aside from a riprap, MGB also suggested that flood control mitigating measures be set at the relocation site.

Some 1,200 families have been identified as beneficiaries of the relocation project, but only 400 of them have so far transferred to the relocation site.

A survey of the City Engineering Office has identified about 4,000 dwellings encroaching the three-meter easement of the Mahiga Creek and the Butuanon River. The city has intensified its efforts to continuously clear its danger zones, hence the demolitions.

Last week officials from the Social Housing Finance Corporation were in the city to see the development at the relocation area and since they were overwhelmed with the latest development of the area, they came to offer housing loans to the beneficiaries aside from the Community Mortgage Program that the beneficiaries have availed themselves of.

The beneficiaries were informed that each of them can avail of P250,000 soft loan for the lot and construction of their houses wherein they are supposed to pay a P1,800 amortization per month within 25 years.

But since the SHFC cannot finance without seeing the skeletal structure of their houses, the city government, being its mobilizer, will be asking the council to come up with an enabling law which will authorize the mayor to release P17 million to the informal settlers so that they can initially start the building of their houses.