DWUP to meet landslide victims in Barangay Sirao

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor will hold a consultative meeting tomorrow among the affected families in the earth movement in Barangay Sirao.

DWUP operations chief Genevieve Alcoseba said the meeting is needed for the city government to iron out its assistance to the affected families.

“Naay consultative meeting karong Biyernes at the same time validation pod sa affected families kay para finally, mahimo na nato ang recommendation sa final list sa para sa financial assistance,” Alcoseba said.

Alcoseba said several offices, which conducted inspection in the affected area, gave different recommendations.She said the city has to come up with a concrete solution for the affected families, who are now temporarily staying with their relatives in urban and rural areas of the city.

The affected residents will be asked during the meeting of their preference, whether they want a relocation or cash assistance. The city government has identified a property in Barangay Guba, three kilometers away from Sirao, as relocation site for those who wants to be relocated.

Alcoseba said that those who wants financial assistance will likely get P20,000 each family.

“After Friday, makahatag na ta sa final action nila and atong i-submit ni mayor for approval,” she said.

DWUP is also looking at the possibility of giving rental subsidy for the affected families while waiting for the final action.

Alcoseba said she will coordinate with the officials of City Agriculture Department, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the office of Councilor Jerry Guardo, deputy mayor on infrastructure.

The earth movement in Barangay Sirao started in January this year. Several houses and roads were covered with soil. Alcoseba said one of the recommendations of her office is to repair the infrastructure damaged by the landslide in the barangay.

It was already reported that the city will use a portion of the P143 million disaster fund for the rehabilitation and construction of the temporary evacuation center in Barangay Sirao. —/FPL (FREEMAN)