Flood victims to get free relocation lots

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte on Thursday vowed the City Government will accommodate all families whose houses were destroyed by the June 29 flashflood that adversely affected at least five barangays.

Duterte said the city is ready to extend assistance to these families by giving them free lots, despite the indigence requirement that the city earlier set before a family can avail of the free lot in Los Amigos in Tugbok district, Davao City.

Duterte was referring to a 20-hectare city-owned relocation site in Los Amigos that can accommodate some 700 families.

One of the main requirements before a family can avail of the free relocation site is that a family must be indigent with no other source of income as defined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Duterte learned that most of the families affected by the flashflood have returned to their original places, which are no longer conducive for living.

"Ang problema man gud, dili sila tanan gusto magpa-relocate. Basi pag unsay effort sa city, pero after, mamalik gihapon sila sa original nila na mga lugar (The problem is that not all of them are willing to be relocated. Even if the city has exerted all its effort to transfer them to a safer area, some of them will return to their original place)," Duterte lamented.

Based on the latest report from the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), there are 580 identified families whose houses were totally damaged by the flashflood.

Duterte said the rehabilitation effort needs the participation of both the City Government and the families affected.

She urged the affected families to participate in whatever measures the city is doing to address their concerns.

Meanwhile, Roberto P. Alabado of the CSSDO, earlier said that around 80 families already signified to transfer to the relocation site owned by the city.