City to give temporary shelter for those affected by clearings

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government is set to purchase container vans which will serve as temporary shelter for those affected by the clearing of structures within the three-meter easement of the city’s waterways.

This was disclosed by lawyer Gerry Carillo, chairman of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

Carillo said these container vans will be placed on a five-hectare lot at the South Road Properties (SRP).

He earlier said that the city government is serious in the clearing of the structures within the three-meter easement of the rivers, which is also among the directives of Mayor Michael Rama who is aiming to transform Cebu City into a Singapore-like city.

While the city is yet to buy the container vans, Carillo said that those affected by the clearing operations will first be placed in schools.

He, however, said that they are fast tracking the bidding process for such purchase so that the affected individuals and families could move there considering that the return of face-to-face classes is about to start.

The city allocated at least P60 million for the purchase of 200 container vans.

Carillo said that it was supposed to undergo bidding but the election ban came so it was not pushed through.

“Among paspasan ang bidding nga ipahigayon, nag-allocate nata og kwarta para sa container van but ang challenge there ang bidding nga pagahimoon,” said Carillo.

The city government, in coordination with the private sector, has also built medium-rise buildings (MRBs) such as in Barangay Lorega to house informal settlers in the city.

As of now, the clearing operations continues in the Kinalumsan River along Barangay Mambaling and Duljo Fatima.

The city government wants to ensure that the people living in the said river will not return there to avoid untoward incidents. — Decemay P. Padilla, JMD (FREEMAN)