Not all fire victims to stay in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing has admitted that the city's relocation site cannot accommodate all the 887 families affected by fire in barangays Guizo and Mantuyong last year.

Quisumbing said some of the affected families will have to relocate to Lapu-Lapu City.

The mayor said that only 500 out of the 887 families can be accommodated back in Guizo and Mantuyong because the city government will only be distributing 28 square meters per family.

The other families will be sent to another relocation sites in Barangays Pajac and Agus in Lapu-Lapu City. Quisum-bing said the city government has decided to raffle off the available lots among the fire victims for everybody to have an equal chance.

"It will be a drawing of lots by the homeowners to determine kinsa ang magpabilin diha sa Guizo and Mantuyong and that is fair compromise," Quisumbing said.

Quisumbing, however, assured that those who will be relocated outside the city will have an advantage for employment, road networks, accessible to electricity and water.

Quisumbing said the city has no government site for informal settlers, the reason why he is planning to purchase a property in the neighboring towns of Consolacion and Liloan or in Lapu-Lapu City.

The city has only two relocation sites: the 6.5-hectare lot in Barangay Paknaan and the 9.2-hectare lot in Guizo and Mantuyong.

The 9.2-hectare relocation site, however, is intended for the fire victims in the two barangays who are now temporarily sheltered at the Cebu International Convention Center.

The 6.5-hectare relocation site, on the other hand, was already occupied by more or less 1,200 beneficiaries from the city's danger zones.

Quisumbing has already visited the areas in Lapu-Lapu City that have been identified as possible relocation sites.

Quisumbing said the areas are very suitable for relocation. (FREEMAN)