'Relocate folk in Rizal, Taguig danger zones'

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman Noli de Castro asked the local governments of Taguig and Rizal province to relocate families living in danger zones. 

De Castro called on Rizal Gov. Jun Jun Ynares, Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula and Taguig Vice Mayor George Elias to immediately identify the families at risk and make the necessary social preparations for them. 

“Let us make the preparations right away. They have to be immediately relocated before another typhoon hits the country and wash out the shanties of the families,” he said.

De Castro met with Ynares, Gacula and Elias during an inspection of the Napindan Channel, a major waterway at the boundary of Taguig and Taytay that got clogged at the height of typhoon “Santi.”

Vast settlements in Lupang Arenda, a fully built-up landfill along the channel, were washed out as the water level rose due to the clogging.

This prompted 70 families to volunteer for government relocation, but more than a thousand residing outside the dike and within 20 kilometers inside the dike are still staying in their homes.

“But whether they like it or not, they have to be relocated. It is the government’s responsibility to bring them to safer places,” De Castro said.   – Pia Lee-Brago