Move hill residents to market? Exec: No

CEBU, Philippines – A Talisay City official has discouraged a proposal that seeks to relocate residents affected by a road widening project in the mountain barangay of Manipis to Lagtang Public Market.

City Councilor Danilo Caballero, chairman of the committee on market, said the Lagtang market will not be an effective relocation site for affected residents since there are still vendors occupying the area.

Close to 100 families need to be relocated because of the landslide that hit Manipis about two weeks ago and they also live near the site of a widening project for Talisay-Toledo Wharf Access Road.

Authorities have noted that Manipis is prone to landslides and that the area remains an unstable and risky place for residents.

While Caballero said he understands the mayor's sentiment favoring the transfer of residents to safer ground, the councilor disclosed some residents living near the danger zone have reportedly refused to leave their homes because they could not afford to leave their livelihood behind.

"Ako man gyud na-istoryahan ang namuyo sa maong lugar, dili man sab sila ganahan mobalhin kay ang ilang panginabuhi-an naa man sa Manipis. Unya ang Lagtang Public Market layo usab para sa mga lumulupyo sa Manipis (I have asked the residents to vacate the place but they were unmoved since Manipis is where they earn their living. Lagtang market is also too far for them)," Caballero explained.

"Dili man hinuon daghang mga vendors diha sa Lagtang pero dili maayo nga atong isagol nga aduna'y manindahay ug mga pamilya usab nga magpuyo sa maong merkado (Though there are not too many vendors in Lagtang, it's still not good to join the families with the vendors)," he said.

Constructed in 2004 during the term of then mayor Eduardo Gullas, Lagtang Public Market was built on a spacious 2.7-hectare property.

In a separate development, the Talisay City Council last week asked Mayor Johnny De los Reyes to appropriate funds for the construction of works for slope protection in Barangay Maghaway relocation site.

City Councilor Doroteo Emit, chairman of the committee on housing development, said the recent abnormalities in the weather and the almost frequent mild earthquakes have posed danger to residents.

Emit said the area is prone to landslide and soil erosion so the construction of slope protection is necessary not only to solve erosion in the area but also as a good start in fostering a safe and protected area.

As one of the city's biggest relocation sites, Maghaway, with its hilly terrain, houses 300 beneficiary-families.