EDITORIAL - Slow recovery

It has been almost a year since the massive landslide that hit Naga City, but it seems those victims have yet to fully recover from the deadly disaster that claimed scores of lives and displaced hundreds of families.

Until now, there has never been enough in the way of relocation sites and livelihood assistance from the government for the families of the victims that would have helped them slowly recuperate and return to their normal lives.

For the past 12 months, what we have heard were only promises and little assistance from the firm that owns the quarry site where the landslide occurred, and from the city, province, and national governments.

Reports said that the new provincial government has promised financial assistance to the landslide victims. Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is supposed to hand over a check worth P3 million to acting Naga City Mayor Kristina Vanessa Chiong, a monetary assistance that the Capitol earlier promised to the calamity-stricken city.

President Rodrigo Duterte visited the city yesterday to lead the groundbreaking of a housing project for the landslide survivors that will rise on a 2.1-hectare lot donated by the provincial government in the controversial Balili property in Barangay Tinaan.

At least 196 housing units will be built in the area aside from the ongoing construction of 50 units funded by the city government and expected to be finished this year. The construction of the additional units will be funded by the National Housing Authority, benefitting at least 213 families affected by the landslide.

We do hope that the local and national governments see the need to prioritize the victims of one of Cebu’s biggest disasters. Since they really badly need help, any form of assistance – whether financial, relief or housing – must not go through the arduous bureaucratic route.