Thousands of Central Luzon families face relocation

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga , Philippines  – The permanent relocation of thousands of families in Central Luzon has surfaced as a major consideration for the government amid the ill effects of global warming, in the magnitude of tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng,” an official of the Department of Social Wefare and Development (DSWD) said yesterday.

DSWD regional director Minda Brigoli said 200 families living at the foot of Mt. Arayat in this province will no longer be allowed to return to their homes amid serious threat from landslides.

A similar situation faces 2,518 other families in Barangays Karael, Paco, Bangan, Batonlapok, San Juan, Paudpod, and San Miguel in Botolan, Zambales, which have been in the path of the Bucao River since a dike gave way last Aug. 6 during typhoon “Kiko,” Brigoli said.

There are reports that the villages used to be part of the original river channel.

“We are now preparing permanent relocation sites for these families. The DSWD has allocated P44 million for the displaced Botolan residents,” Brigoli said.

Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso has donated a five-hectare lot as relocation site in Barangay New Taugtog, also in Botolan, and another 10-hectare site is being studied by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau also for a possible relocation project.

Brigoli said that in Arayat, where 12 people were killed in a landslide last Sept. 26 at the height of Ondoy, 200 families have remained in evacuation centers, as their village, San Juan Banyo, has been declared a danger zone.

She said the government is considering offering them existing houses in government-backed housing projects or building a new community for them.

Meanwhile, Brigoli and Regional Disaster Coordinating Council chairman and Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz said the region is prepared for the effects of typhoon “Ramil.”

De la Cruz said all disaster coordinating councils at the provincial, city and municipal levels have been on high alert since Ramil was reported to be approaching the country.