Relocation sites mulled for informal settlers along Butuanon River

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Cebu City government has long been preparing for the relocation of the informal settlers along the Butuanon River even before its waters tested positive for the poliovirus. 

Mayor Edgardo Labella said that the city has planned to relocate the residents for a while now since they hamper the river widening projects and the area is also a danger zone because of frequent flooding. 

Read: Labella wants other Cebu City rivers tested for poliovirus

With the Department of Health advisory on the poliovirus presence in the Butuanon River, Labella said they now have to hasten the construction of the relocation sites. 

“We will do it gradually, we will relocate them to a safe area,” said the mayor. 

He said they are looking into a two-hectare city-owned property for the building of social housing although the mayor has not revealed the location of the lot yet. 

Each hectare can house seven tenement buildings, and if the city uses the entire property, at least 14 social housing can be built.

Read: Mandaue, Cebu to start clearing Butuanon River; eye relocation sites for affected residents

If each building can house 100 families, the city expects to relocate a total of 1,400 families. 

“It’s the thrust of our administration to give the informal settlers a chance for decent homes,” he said. 

The Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) has already conducted a profiling of the informal households along the Butuanon River. 

The families living along the public Butuanon River danger zone will become the priority for the social housing. /bmjo