Relocation eyed for 75,000 families in danger zones

MANILA, Philippines - The government needs to relocate 75,000 informal settler families (ISFs) from danger zones in Metro Manila, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said yesterday.

The government has relocated 25,000 ISFs but its target is to transfer 100,000 families from shanties along waterways in Metro Manila to safer neighborhoods, he said.

Roxas said he personally checked on the relocation of 98 families living along the three-meter easement of the Estero Tripa de Gallina in Pasay City.

“The ISFs voluntarily dismantle their houses situated beside a creek. Like Manong Nildo and Aling Myrna, who have been living in the area for 17 years, decided to avail the program of the government and transferred to a more secure neighborhood,” Roxas told reporters.

Roxas assured the families that their relocation site in Trece Martires, Cavite will have electricity, water, drainage, concrete roads, a school and livelihood opportunities.

He added that residents will only pay P200 a month as their amortization for a structure that costs nearly P290,000.

Roxas refused to say whether the relocation drive and waterway clearing will be included in President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address on Monday.