THE City of Naga plans to borrow at least P500 million so it can provide financial assistance to more than 1,200 evacuees affected by the landslide that struck Sitio Sindulan in Barangay Tina-an last Sept. 20.
Former mayor Valdemar Chiong said the City wants to secure the loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). The money will serve as a “standby fund” in case the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) releases the results of its second delineation and assessment on areas affected by the landslide.
Chiong said the City is currently in talks with the bank.
He said the City has already allocated more than P60 million, including funds donated by various groups, to help 444 families.
Each affected family will receive at least P150,000 in exchange for leaving the evacuation centers and settling in areas outside the danger zone.
As for the “standby fund,” it will be used to help the families who remain in the evacuation centers when the 444 families get their money, Chiong said.
He said they still need the approval of the City Council before they can take out the loan.
He said the City will have no problem paying it off because its outstanding obligation with the DBP is only P50 million.
Meanwhile, Apo Land and Quarry Corp. corporate communications representative Chito Maniago lamented the filing of the P4.5-billion environmental suit against the company by concerned residents even though mining officials have stated that last September’s landslide was a “natural phenomenon.”
“We find it very unfortunate... that personalities behind this action decided to pursue this case despite the clear finding of DENR technical experts that the landslide was a natural phenomenon and not caused by quarry or mining operations of Apo Land & Quarry Corp. The experts who conducted the investigation have concluded that the incident was unique and may happen in other areas and even without quarry operations,” Maniago said. (JKV)