Until relocated: Fire victims to stay at CICC
Fire victims continue to stay at the CICC compound pending relocation. Aldo Nelbert Banaynal
CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has allowed the close to 1,000 families, whose houses were razed by fire in Mandaue City 10 months ago, to continue to use the Cebu International Convention Center as an evacuation center until their relocation site is completed.
"As long as di pa ma-ready ilang relocation site they can stay there. Wa man ta nihatag og deadline," Davide said.
Manduae City Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing earlier said the fire victims will have to stay at the evacuation center until after the Christmas season.
The mayor tasked his chief of staff, lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan, to oversee the transfer and finish identifying potential beneficiaries of the 9.2-hectare relocation site in Barangay Guizo and Mantuyong. Bathan said the transfer would be gradual.
Davide said some of the victims have already been transferred to the relocation site.
"Nag-agad ta sa Manduae when mahuman ang relocation site. It has been agreed before pa na diha lang sa ang mga pamilya una," he said.
In fact, about a hundred of the 800 families were already relocated ahead of the others the other week. The families are expected to be fully relocated by the end of March next year.
At least 500 houses were razed by fire in the two barangays last March. The fire victims were temporarily sheltered at the CICC while the city government is re-blocking and filling the area with limestone.
The city's Beneficiary Selection Committee has only validated 177 beneficiaries from Mantuyong and 138 families from Guizo.
At least 65 percent or 520 families will be relocated in the 9.2-hectare lot while 35 percent or around 280 families will be transferred in a property acquired by the city government in Lapu-Lapu City.
The victims were supposed to start rebuilding their houses last October but the mayor deferred it after learning that each family was only given 14-square meter lot, saying the measurement is below the housing standard. Each family will now get a 28-squre meter lot for free. (FREEMAN)
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