Families living along the coastline in northern Cebu have to move out of a 40-meter “no-build” zone from the shoreline and go inland to avoid the risk of storm surges caused by typhoons like last year’s Yolanda.
Aside from building “storm evacuation centers,” Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the provincial government’s Task Force Paglig-on, said relocation sites would be provided.
The provincial government will also work with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to implement a cash-for-work assistance program to help the typhoon-hit families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
A resolution for the program along with another resolution that seeks foster families for orphaned children were approved by the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) during yesterday’s session.
“Relocation is too big a problem. Hence, we will do it step by step. We mobilize the Philippine army to prepare the land and then the local government unit will purchase the land (for relocation),” Tribunalo said.
LONG PROCESS
Tribunalo was appointed by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III to head the province’s task force on rehabilitation and reconstruction based on his experience in working with the United Nations team that saw action in the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.
He met with private sector representatives and community-based organizations in a meeting of the shelter cluster for post-Yolanda reconstruction.
Relocating people living 40 meters from the shoreline was a main concern.
“Communities living near the coastlines are vulnerable to storm surges. Let us address the concern. They ought to be relocated to available lands but not far from their livelihood,” Tribunalo said.
“It’s a long process. It would take time. But people will soon move without being coerced. We’re informing them that they are facing the consequences of possible storm surges and so if they can transfer now,” he added.
TRAFFICKERS
Armando Diango, civil military operations officer of the 23rd engineering brigade of the Philippine Army, said they are willing to provide “manpower, heavy equipment and security” for the relocation of the settlers.
Under the cash-for-work program, beneficiaries will be given temporary employment for 15 to 30 days and paid P327 daily. OWWA will allocate more than P44 million for the program.
PB Member Miguel Magpale also sponsored a resolution assigning foster families to care for orphaned children who may be exploited by “human traffickers.”
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) urged local government officials to protect their constituents against human traffickers taking advantage of the devastation caused by the typhoon to prey on children.
Other task force concerns include rebuilding homes and schools, construction of relocation houses, and providing livelihood to typhoon victims.
WATER SHORTAGE
A meeting will be called between agencies and stakeholders on interventions in typhoon-hit areas.
Tribunalo also went to Tabuelan town which is facing a water shortage after the pipes connecting the Gumbang Spring to a reservoir located in barangay Mabunao cracked from the battering of huge waves caused by supertyphoon Yolanda.
Tabuelan’s municipal planning and development office said 1,461 families were left without potable water.
Fire trucks were unable to provide enough water for them, forcing some families to drain water from banana tree trunks for their consumption.
Governor Davide also said he is waiting for a Provincial Board (PB) resolution to provide a P2 million budget to repair the piping system./ With a report from Mary Love Melody Cabanag, USJ-R Intern and Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos