BUSTOS,
Bulacan—Hundreds of informal settlers living on identified geo-hazard zone
along the Angat River will soon be relocated to a resettlement site in this
town.
Mayor
Arnel Mendoza of this town said that first batch of informal settlers will be
resettled within the year.
The
National Housing Authority (NHA) established a resettlement housing project in
a seven hectare lot at Barangay Catacte here.
The
mayor said that at least 80 percent of the 1,166 low coast housing units has
been completed.
He
said that informal settlers living along the banks of Angat River in Baliwag,
Plaridel, Pulilan and this town were identified for resettlement.
For
Bustos town alone, Mendoza said that at least 600 families has been identified.
“They
are the ones who has been identified by the provincial and municipal
government,” he said noting that said informal settlers are usual resident who
used to be evacuated when Angat, Ipo and Bustos dams in the province release
water into the Angat River.
According
to Mendoza, community affairs officers (CAO) the Social Welfare and development
office in the province and Bustos has coordinated with the residents for
identification and validation of families that will be relocated.
He
said that informal settlers offered not resistance.
The
same was echoed by Amancio Surigao, Fatima Datiles and Erna Villamor, all
residents living under the General Alejo Santos bridge that links this town
with Baliwag town.
They
said that they have been living under the bridge for more than 30 years and
noted that when water on the Angat River is high, they have to evacuate on top
of the bridge where they used to pitch tents.
“It’s
a good opportunity for us to stay away from danger zone” said 52-year old
Surigao in vernacular.
In
a separate interview, 32-year old Datiles said she always fear for her three
children when water on the river start rising.
She
said that during the flood spawned by typhoon Pedring in 2012 and monsoon rains
last year, they house was submerge and it made her fearful.
“My
children are so young and I have to keep watch over them,” Datiles said.
Like
Datiles and Surigao, Villamor welcome the housing project offered by the
government in Barangay Catacte in Bustos town.
She
said that it is not far from their sources of livelihood, but stressed that
they might have problems with their children in going to school.
Villamor
said that other families living along the bank of Angat River in Barangay
Tibag, Baliwag have children attending nearby schools.
“Its
just a walking distance from our house, that’s why we don’t have to worry much
about transportation,” Villamor said in Filipino.
Earlier,
Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado said that housing project developed by NHA in
Bustos town will have school facilities along with a clinic and mini-market.
The
said housing project is likely to be expanded to accommodate more informal
settlers.
He
also disclosed that the NHA is also developing another housing project in Pandi
town for other informal settlers in the province. (Dino Balabo)
