Riverbank dwellers very risky
THE ILOILO City Crisis/Disaster Management Office (C/DMO) area coordination center recommended the immediate dismantling and relocating of houses along the riverbanks of the Jaro River to avoid accidents during flashfloods.
Engr. Jose G. Papa, officer in charge of C/DMO, wrote Mayor Jerry Treñas last week detailing the very risky status of several residential units constructed beneath and both sides of two major bridges of Jaro River. The bridges connect Brgys. Tabuc Suba and Simon Ledesma and Brgys. Democracia and Tabuc Suba in Jaro.
Papa said the residents in the area are at risk and vulnerable to disaster when flood water rises to critical level.
The crisis management officer cited the flood last May 14-15 at Brgy Simon Ledesma where one house was destroyed and carried away by floodwaters.
In Brgy. Cubay, three houses were totally destroyed and 14 partially damaged due to riverbank erosion.
The crisis office and the city social welfare office listed families living on the riverbanks as vulnerable during typhoons and flashfloods.
More than 300 families were affected in Jaro and affected barangays were declared under a state of calamity due to the two strong typhoons last May.
Meanwhile, Roy Firmeza, chief of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (Icupao) said that the soon to be displaced families have always a place at the city’s relocation sites if the plan is approved by the mayor.
Iloilo City Public Information Office
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