FREQUENTLY flooded areas in the city like residences in City Camp Lagoon should be prioritized for relocation by local governments.
Undersecretary Eduardo Del Rosario of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said local governments with the capability must undertake resettlements to ensure the safety of residents especially during the typhoon season.
Del Rosario, however, admitted the priorities of the National Government are those in the National Capital Region especially those living in main waterways directly affected by flooding every rainy season.
While most local governments cannot immediately conduct relocation, he said these local governments could set aside their calamity funds for eventual relocation of residents, del Rosario said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the lead agency for the resettlement of those in critical areas agrees local government must enforce Comprehensive Land Use Plans (Clup) which serves as guides for identifying safe places to build residences as well as resettle and find relocation for residences in danger zones like in City Camp Lagoon.
But DILG Regional Director John Castañeda said just revising and updating the Clups is already hard task for the DILG to push local governments.
He, however, agreed with Del Rosario’s suggestion that local governments should have the political will to eventually move out those living in danger zones.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, meanwhile, said those in City Camp Lagoon must have never been there in the first place.
Residents within the area have already been relocated to Quezon Hill, Hillside and Gabriela Silang but those relocated eventually went back near the lagoon.
Domogan said those relocated in the past never left the flooded area and instead rented out the lands or sold it to another owner. Through the years, he added, these residences multiplied and these are the same people the city rescues every typhoon and rainy season.
He also blamed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for awarding land titles to residents.
He stressed a thorough review and planning for resettlement should be in place as the three-hectare of land should never be occupied much more be awarded with land titles.