Officials hold dialogue with Apas victims
Baltazar Tribunalo
THEY have grievances, worries and concerns, and last night, the voices of the Barangay Apas fire victims were heard by officials from both the city and provincial governments as they lamented their plight and aired their thoughts on plans for them by both local government units (LGUs).
One of the biggest concerns aired was the planned relocation site in Barangay Kalunasan, with its most common mode of transportation being the motorcycle-for-hire (habal-habal) which charges a usual one-way “pakyaw” rate of P150.
Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief and one of the key persons from the provincial government handling the fire victims’ situation, explained that there are problems that could be easily addressed while some have to go through the bureaucratic process.
“Let us understand that there are problems that could be easily solved and then there are those that need public consultation,” Tribunalo said in Cebuano.
Another point raised by the fire victims was that the provincial government should forego with the clearing operations of the fire site as each of them had already cleaned up their respective areas.
They said that a garbage truck should instead be sent to collect the trash that had piled up since the incident occurred last Monday.
Nagiel Bañacia, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), was quick to assure the fire victims that they will immediately send garbage trucks today.
Another major point of contention for the fire victims was the determination of whether one was a structure owner, a sharer or a renter.
Bañacia clarified that only the structure owners were entitled to the one-time P20,000 financial assistance from the city government although the sharer and the renter will also get a cash aid but of a lesser amount.
Bañacia assured that the city government will try its best to distribute the financial assistance in time for Christmas.
As to the possibility of having an alternative relocation site, following unverified reports that a lot inside the Department of Agriculture compound along M. Velez St. Capitol Site was available, Bañacia explained that Barangay Kalunasan was the only place where the Apas fire victims could be relocated.
Bañacia explained that the price per square meter of the lot inside the DA compound was too expensive for socialized housing and that the city still had no budget to construct a condo-type structure that could be available anytime soon.
In comparison, according to Tribunalo, the per square meter price of the relocation site in Barangay Kalunasan was only pegged at P1,680 and through the Community Mortgage Program, a family can own their own lot at only P500 per month for a 30-year payment term.
As it was still a consultation meeting, Tribunalo said that nothing was set in stone yet but more meetings can be expected in the coming weeks.
Provincial administrator Mark Tolentino had earlier said that the consultation meeting was necessary before the victims could be relocated.
“Nobody really can move unless we are all in agreement,” Tolentino said.
Tribunalo said that at this point, they could not yet determine the timeline as to when the victims will be relocated or when the relocation site would be ready but assured that this can be expected by next year.
He said both the provincial and city governments will continue to hold meetings and advise Governor Hilario Davide III and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña of the progress taking into consideration the things that had been brought up during the consultation meeting with the fire victims.
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