Gov't to ensure relocated families prevented from danger zones

The government will ensure that families relocated to safer areas will not go back to their previous dwelling place through strong cooperation among agencies, the Palace said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the government's plan to move families to safer areas also entails a mechanism that will ensure that they won't re-occupy the dangerous housing sites particularly in the cities.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government was given an instruction to make sure that those who are relocated will stay in safe relocations sites, he said.

The police and barangay officials will also work together to prevent them from coming back, Lacierda said.

The Palace official said the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will carry out projects in abandoned areas immediately after those families leave.

"Sinisigurado natin na hindi na sila makakabalik sa danger zones. 'Yan ay mahigpit na instruction ni Pangulong Aquino, at i-enforce 'yan ng DILG. At saka may mga proyektong gagawin doon ang DPWH pag-alis ng mga estero families, aayusin natin 'yan, ng DPWH, ng MMDA," Lacierda told reports.

He also said the Department of Justice vowed to go after professional squatters.

The present relocation sites will be attractive to those contemplating to move out, he said, adding that these are very different from previous projects that usually made families leave the sites. Those who agree to be relocated could visit the relocation site, he said.

There are structures already in place and families who are willing to be relocated will receive P18,000 as government support, according to Lacierda.

But for the housing projects that are still being constructed, the government will extend 1,500 a month or P18,000 a year for each family to rent a decent home. They will be transferred once the structures are completed, he said.

The Palace official also defended the government's plan, saying the move isn't a band-aid solution but a long-term one.

"Ang sabi ng iba 'band aid' ito, ang sinasabi namin, 'first aid' ito dahil ito ay unang tulong sa ating mga pamilyang who are in danger zones, in the esteros, in those eight major waterways," he said.

"We need to move them out in order to make sure that come typhoon season, hindi sila maaapektuhan. This is not the only solution; our solution is to relocate them to decent structures off site, in city, or near city." (PNA)