FOUR associations of landless families in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental have joined forces against the impending demolition of their houses and demanded for relocation sites.
Marilyn Lacorte, vice-chairman of the Ganghaan Landless Association (GALA) said it has been one year since Mayor Heckert “Manok” Emano promised them a relocation site as they face eviction threat.
Lacorte said some 70 families are still living in Ganghaan, Sta Cruz, Tagoloan, a five-hectare land owned by the Emanos.
The Emanos have already offered them relocation sites, however Lacorte said the families refused to transfer as these are far from the Tagoloan town proper where their livelihood are.
The relocation sites offered are also still not developed, with no water and electricity, and are still owned by the Emanos "which means that our land security is still uncertain.”
"We have already aired our grievances to Mayor Emano but to no avail, this time, we really want that he gives us concrete answers to our eviction problem," she said.
The same situation are faced by residents in Zone 5 Nabulod, barangay Baluarte, Tagoloan, where hundreds of residents are fearing of losing their homes with the Phividec Industrial Authority claiming as the rightful owner of the land.
Noel Abaonga, chairman of Zone 5 Nabulod, Barangay Baluarte Landless Association (ZONABALAS), said to make the situation worse, the Phividec announced it won't shoulder the disturbance fee and relocation sites of the affected families.
Meanwhile, Poblacion Landless Association (POLA) and Natumolan Landless Association (NALA) in Tagoloan are also demanding for relocation after losing their homes from disasters.
But three years after the typhoon that ravaged their homes, the residents came back to their former homes after the local government unit of Tagoloan failed to give them relocation sites.
These residents are now living under the Tagoloan Bridge following the apparent neglect of the local government to these displaced individuals.