P450M needed to relocate river squatters
THE Iloilo City Government will spend more than P400 million before it can relocate some 2,910 families squatting on riverbanks and waterways.
Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday submitted the “informal settlers housing rehabilitation plan for typhoon Frank victim-families” to the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HIDCC) for possible funding.
Some P450 million funding requirement is needed to address the plight of squatters who are now staying in various evacuation centers.
Engr. Jerome Borjal, project manager of the P4-billion Iloilo Flood Control Project (IFCP), said some P293 million will be used to develop the three relocation sites.
Borjal and assistant project manager Engr. Al Fruto computed the backfill land development at P10million per hectare.
The needed funds for development of relocation sites include P162 million for the 16.2-hectare lot in Barangay San Isidro; P56 million for the 5.6-hectare lot in Barangay Lanit; and P25 million for the 2.5-hectare property in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo.
Another P50million is needed for the construction of a two-lane concrete bridge at the San Isidro relocation site.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) calculated P133 million for the core shelter assistance project for 1,900 families at P70,000 each.
The development of the Gawad Kalinga housing units is estimated at P18 million for 300 house units which will be constructed by the City Government.
Another P6 million from the pork barrel allocation of Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. will be spent for 100 housing units. The CSWDO will hire skilled workers through “cash for work program” to build the houses. The relocation sites development is scheduled to start August until December 2009.
Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (Icupao) chief Roy Firmeza said the existing available sites can accommodate 2,872 households of the 2,910 squatter families surveyed as of December 2006.
The remaining 38 households will only need 3,000 square meters, Firmeza said. The Icupao chief said each recipient will be provided 56-60 sq m.
“They should be qualified. We will check their list in evacuation centers and assess their situation,” Firmeza explained.
Basing from 2007 structural census, Firmeza said there are 13,700 households considered as informal settlers or 15 percent of the city’s total 84,000 households.
He said the City Hall has some P13million available budget for land acquisition.
Jeehan Fernandez, The Daily Guardian
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