Militants question relocation sites for river families

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Militant groups headed by KADAMAY staged a rally Tuesday at the Iloilo Plazoleta Gay in relation to the Iloilo River Development Project, which they said may displace some 3,000 families.

Vivian Asong, head of KADAMAY, said it is very possible that what happened at the Silverio Compound in Parañaque City wherein police were accused of brutality during demolition might happen in Iloilo.

Asong explained they are not against relocating the families that will be expected only that the relocation sites reportedly lack the necessary services.

The city here has two relocation sites – one in Barangay So-oc in Arevalo district and in Barangay Lanit in Jaro District. The problem, they said, is that these sites experience frequent flooding and do not provide opportunities for livelihood. The relocation sites are also reportedly congested and far from the workplaces of the affected families.

Lean Porquia of Bayan Muna urged the government to provide the affected families the necessary social services and livelihood so that what happened in Silverio Compound in Parañaque will not happen in Iloilo City.