Consolacion mulls acquiring lot for dwellers near river

CEBU, Philippines - The municipal government of Consolacion will purchase a lot to serve as relocation site for those living near Cansaga River, Mayor Teresa Alegado said.

In a talk with The FREEMAN, Mayor Alegado said the flooding last Monday and Tuesday affected residents near the river.

Alegado said the rising number of informal settlers near the river is giving her administration a headache.

“Mikalit lang gud na sila pagdaghan dihang dapit ug atong nahibaw-an nga taga laing lungsod kini sila ug naa na nagpuyo karon daplin sa sapa,” she said.

The mayor said some of the settlers work in the town, and others in Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Cebu.

However, Alegado said a survey should be conducted first to determine the real beneficiaries of a relocation project and that the municipal government needs funds to buy a lot for relocation.

In previous years, informal settlers from Mandaue City were transferred to Consolacion.

Most of those living in barangay Pulpogan are from Cebu City.

The municipal council of Consolacion has declared a state of calamity in 11 of the 21 barangays of the northern town that was hit by floods earlier this week, namely, Cansaga, Pitogo, Nangka, Jugan, Danlag, Garing, Panas, Lanipga, Panoypoy, Tilhaong, and Tayud.

Alegado has directed Vice Mayor Aurelio Damole to call a special session yesterday for the urgent matter.

The 11 barangays were determined based on the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

The council also decided to initially spend P2.4 million from the calamity funds for relief operations.

Some of the money would also be spent to repair damaged roads and bridges.

More than 500 families from the barangays were affected by floods after last Monday’s heavy rains.

Massive flooding was reported in barangays Cansaga, Pitogo, Nangka, and Jugan.

Infrastructure was damaged in barangays Garing, Panas, Lanipga, Panoypoy, Tilhaong, and Tayud.

Landslides were also reported to have occurred in Garing and Panas, blocking roads and toppling electrical posts, causing traffic congestion and power outage, town officials said.

In Pitogo, 417 individuals from 97 families were transferred to chapels and day care centers.

Sitio Laray of barangay Pitogo was also hit by floods. (FREEMAN)