ARAYAT -- Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday instructed the National Housing Authority (NHA) to provide a land, consisting of 10 hectares in Barangay Telapayong in the same town, as a relocation site for families affected by a recent landslide here.
Binay, also concurrent chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), has agreed with the Provincial Government that relocation is the long-term solution to the problem confronting some 381 families in Barangay San Juan Baño here.
He said that the new site will be jointly established by the National Government through NHA and the provincial government.
"Yung share namin ‘yung lupa, tapos yung development ng lugar ay sa Kapitolyo na," Binay added.
The Vice President clarified that residents in coastal municipalities who want to be relocated in the area can do so.
With this, Governor Lilia Pineda thanked Binay for showing concern to Kapampangans affected by Typhoon "Santi."
Pineda meanwhile stressed that the affected area is no longer safe for the residents.
She further stated that there is no guarantee on the safety of the residents, as another landslide may happen with a strong downpour.
"Habang wala pa ‘yung lilipatan nila, kapag may ulan kailangan muna silang pumunta sa ligtas na lugar. Pwede silang bumalik pagkatapos," the governor noted.
It can be recalled that on September 26, 2009, a landslide claimed the lives of 12 residents in Purok 7 in Barangay San Juan Baño.
The area was wiped out by strong mud flow and huge stones coming down from the mountain.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources repeatedly stated that Mt. Arayat National Park is "critical," and landslides may occur anytime with heavy downpour.
It was claimed that huge volume of sediments, boulders and mud are found on top of the mountain, and this could probably trigger another landslide during the rainy season.
Joining Binay were Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino, Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction Management Officer Angelina Blanco, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Elizabeth Baybayan and Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco.