OFFICIALS of the Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) assured they are fast-tracking the release of financial assistance to the families of those who died in the deadly landslide that hit two areas in Barangay Tina-an, City of Naga, last week.
City of Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong said they have yet to receive a letter or document that will formalize the company’s financial aid to affected residents.
But some of the victims’ relatives said the ALQC’s financial assistance does not compensate enough for their loss.
Chito Maniago, ALQC spokesperson, told SunStar Cebu that they are ready to release the P30,000 financial assistance to those who have family members who died, while P10,000 for those injured.
But they are still closely coordinating with the local government unit as to when they would release the amounts.
Aside from financial assistance, the ALQC also gave food packs to evacuees in 11 evacuation centers in the city.
As part of its long-term plan, the ALQC has committed to donate a parcel of its property in Barangay Tina-an to the City for the establishment of a relocation site for affected residents, Maniago said.
Maniago said their company has donated a property near the APO-Cemex plant in Barangay Tina-an four years ago where Gawad Kalinga built houses for 20 families.
In a separate interview, Chiong said that ALQC’s commitment to give cash assistance has not been formalized with the city.
During a meeting with Chiong earlier this week, Cemex Asia president Joaquin Estrada said the company would not only provide financial assistance for the deceased and the injured, but also donate a one-hectare lot near their plant as a possible relocation site.
But Chiong urged Estrada to formalize his commitment.
“Please write to us your commitments so these could be documented,” Chiong said.
The mayor said that while ALQC has yet to fulfill its promised assistance, they have started processing the release of a P30,000 burial assistance for those who died.
Meanwhile, surviving relatives said ALQC’s plan to give them money is an insult to those who died.
Marty, a relative of a landslide victim from Sitio Sindulan, said the life of his cousin is “far too expensive” than a meager P30,000.
“Dili ikabayran ug P30,000 ang kinabuhi sa akong ig-agaw. Dili namo ikalimud kung unsa ang gibuhat sa Apo sa mga residente sa Sindulan (Their P30,000 can’t pay for my cousin’s life. We can’t lie about what the APO (company) did to the residents of Sindulan),” said Marty, who asked SunStar Cebu not to reveal his full name.
Cherry Candol, 56, whose cousin Henaro Segovia and his family remain missing, said ALQC’s gesture will not remove their liability.
Candol was one of 30 residents from Barangay Tina-an and some protesters who held a rally in front of the Apo-Cemex plant yesterday to oppose its ongoing operations.
“Bisa’g ang inyong P30,000 dili na makapabalik sa inyong ig-agaw ug sa iyang pamilya. Mga wa moy puangod (Your P30,000 can’t bring my cousin back to his family. You’re ruthless),” Candol added.
As of yesterday, the number of people killed during the landslide rose to 60, while the injured also rose to 18. Twenty-eight are still missing.
Meanwhile, around P1.2 million in assistance will be given by the cities of Mandaue and Talisay.
The Talisay City Council yesterday approved a resolution for the P1 million assistance to the landslide victims. The assistance will also come with relief goods.
The officials will personally hand the assistance to Mayor Chiong.
Mayor Gullas said he is supporting the suspensions of quarry operations in Talisay City.
The City Government is making moves to relocate families living in landslide-prone areas.
The City Government of Mandaue, likewise, will donate P200,000 to the City of Naga. Mandaue also sent two mobile kitchen to Naga along with its disaster team.
Jessie Perez, chief of the City Social Welfare Services, said one mobile kitchen will be cooking the food for the evacuees, while another one will distribute the food rations to the centers. (JKV, GPL, FMDD)