A LOCAL government unit can only do so much. Especially when it’s up against nature.
In the case of the City of Naga, officials have been moving heaven and earth to assist families of survivors of the deadly landslide that struck Barangay Tina-an in September 2018.
That incident claimed the lives of 78 persons and displaced hundreds of families.
In a survey conducted by the City a month after, it found that a total of 1,700 families were still living within the “no habitation zone.”
Then in November that year, the City discovered that 900 families were living in areas considered by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to be “red zones,” or areas not allowed for habitation due to threats of further earth movements.
It also found another 2,800 families living in “green zones,” or areas considered closed to settlement and relocation until a detailed hazard study was conducted there.
One year later, 103 families, not 400 as earlier reported, have returned to live in areas identified as “no habitation zones” in Sitios Sambag 3 and Lower Tagaytay in Barangay Inoburan; Sitios Sindulan 2 and 3 in Barangay Tina-an; Sitio Crossing in Barangay Naa-lad; Sitios Abaca 1 and 2, Cawa 1 and 2 and Tal-ot in Barangay Mainit; Sitio Gumamela in Barangay Cabungahan; and Sitio Marmol in Barangay Uling.
Acting Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong said these families had already received financial help from the City Government or had availed themselves of the free housing assistance from the City and the National Government.
Chiong also clarified that there are no newly discovered cracks, saying the existing ones were discovered after the landslide last year. But even though no earth movement has been detected since then, these families should not be complacent, she said. After all, it’s the middle of the rainy season and the hazard reduction program of the Apo Land & Quarry Corp. is ongoing,
The fact that these families live in “no habitation zones” means their lives are in danger.
So I understand why Chiong seems exasperated. According to her, doors have been slammed on their faces when they came a-knocking to ask these families to leave.
She has had to ask the police, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection to assist City personnel talk to affected families and convince them to voluntarily evacuate.
Still, they refuse to budge, Chiong said. So she has asked them to take responsibility for their action if something does happen. While she’s at it, maybe she should ask them to sign a waiver.
I believe the City has done everything to keep them safe. Indeed, these families have taken fate in their own hands.