ILOILO CITY, July 14 (PNA) — Yolanda victims from the coastal Barangay Talucgangan by principle have agreed to move back 40 meters away from their current “no build zone” residences in the northern town of Banate for their resettlement.
Renante Dellero, who acted as spokesman of the group of 37 residents who trooped early Tuesday morning to the office of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., said that their houses were totally and partially damaged during the Nov. 8, 2013 super typhoon Yolanda but they prefer to remain in their current residences because of their proximity to their source of livelihood.
He said that they do not want to transfer to the proposed resettlement site in the upland Barangay Asin, Banate because of its distance and inaccessibility.
Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, who faced the complainants, said that upon consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office 6, the residents could either write the DSWD asking for reevaluation of the list of recipients if they go for the Emergency Shelter Assistance or if not, they could ask for a dialogue with Banate Mayor Carlos Cabangal and officials of the Iloilo Provincial Government, National Housing Authority and DSWD to bring up their plea to only move back 40 meters from their present site, which is safer ground.
Because of the options presented them, Dellero and his group decided to seek a dialogue for them to be allowed by the concerned agencies to be moved back to safer ground but still in Barangay Talucgangan.
”This is the best option given us,” Dellero said, referring to their moving back 40 meters away if allowed.
Banias then cited the cases of Carles, Concepcion and Estancia where the residents also made an appeal letter to then Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson Sr. that they be allowed to stay in their current residents, which is considered vulnerable area, but they vowed to implement pre-evacuation to their resettlement sites at the first notice of typhoon or calamity. (PNA)