Pasig River squatters relocated

A total of 10,000 families living along the banks of the Pasig River will be relocated to different resettlement areas by the end of this year.

Based on the targets of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), the 10-meter easement on the banks of the river will be cleared of informal settlers before the year ends.

As of yesterday, a total of 2,017 families have been successfully relocated to resettlement areas in and around Metro Manila.

Vissia Aldon, chief special assistant to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Jejomar Binay, disclosed that at least three relocation siteswere allocated for the displaced families along the Pasig River. Of the three available sites, the C-5 medium rise resettlement building has already been filled up.

The other two in Montalban, Rizal and Trece Martirez, Cavite are available for occupancy.

Aldon said, San Agustin and Arroceros in Manila and Barrangka, Hulo and Ilaya in Mandaluyong City have been cleared of squatters, and also the MB Virginia VI, a derelict on the Pasig which was home to a number of families.

MMDA executive director for traffic, Ernesto Camarillo noted that the Relocation Action Plan of the PRRC incorporates the social with the financial aspects of relocation. -