Number of displaced Naga families seen to rise

CEBU, Philippines —  More residents living near the landslide site in the City of Naga would be displaced with the expansion of the “no habitation” zone. 

With this, the city government plans to seek assistance from the provincial and national government to provide families with new homes.

At present, there are 444 displaced families.

Once the delineation of the no-build zone is implemented, the number may reach 1,700, said City Councilor Carmelino Cruz, Jr., the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head.

"Since the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has expanded the permanent danger and no habitation zones, after the DENR delineation, the team of City Administrator Arthur Villamor and City Assesor Flordeliz Ababa have estimated the affected households to reach 1,700," he told The FREEMAN.

MGB, an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was earlier tasked to conduct a geo-hazard survey at the landslide area in Barangay Tina-an, and to delineate the critical zone.

MGB has drawn three zones—the permanent danger zone or the landslide area; the no habitation zone; and the regulated zone.

The permanent danger zone will be strictly off limits to people, while no habitation zone covers areas not fit for habitation.

The regulated zone, on the other hand, may be built with houses that if an intensive and thorough study would show that it is safe for habitation.

For now, the city still has to prioritize the 444 households that were identified during the initial delineation of the DENR-MGB.

"Within seven days from last Tuesday (Oct. 23), they (households) will be made to choose from two available relocation sites: Carcar NHA (National Housing Authority) housing or Balili property relocation," said Cruz.

For the donated Balili property in Naga, he said, the city is set to build around 50 housing units while the President, through NHA, committed for the additional 320 units.

The relocation project is set to be completed next year, Cruz said.

The 200 housing units in Carcar, on the other hand, are now ready for occupancy.

But for those who will opt not to relocate to either of the two sites, he said, the family will be entitled to relocation assistance amounting to P50,000.

He said each of the 444 families was given cash assistance of P50,000 for house rental expenses while waiting for the relocation to be completed.

"So in the meantime, the affected households can use their P50,000 cash assistance for house rental expenses. This arrangement is cognizant of the need for better living conditions compared to the cramped evacuation centers," he said.

Moreover, Cruz said the city government plans to provide additional P50,000 for those families whose houses were completely damaged, and P20,000 for partially damaged.

He said the humanitarian financial aid is sourced from the city's local funds and the P13-million cash donations. — KBQ (FREEMAN)