Saturday, April 4, 2009 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Lydia C. Pendon
THE San Isidro Jaro relocation site for informal settlers will soon emerge as the biggest and pampered community for some 2,000 poor families.
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas announced this after a conference with stakeholders in charge of constructing the more than 16 hectares relocation site in Jaro district, Iloilo City.
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Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs (Icupao) earlier reported the presence of more than 2,000 families living along riverbanks and other danger zones that urgently need relocation. Thousands of families were also rendered homeless by super typhoon Frank last June 2008.
Treñas said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) already released P35 million from the National Government's poverty alleviation fund. It was coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and is now ready for use in the construction of housing units, he said.
Habitat for Humanity will take charge of the construction of 500 units under such program, in coordination with the City Government's Icupao.
Amenities for the relocation site will include two daycare centers, one multipurpose center and one health center. These will be constructed by the City Government on top of the electric power service expansion of Panay Electric Company, with funds from the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) provided for local government unit hosting power facilities.
The National Housing Authority (NHA) is also releasing P15 million for land development of the relocation site, which will include access roads and drainage system.
Local Utilities Waterworks Administrator Prospero Pichay had given P2 million for the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) to expand its water service area in Jaro and serve the relocated families at the San Isidro relocation site.
Iloilo City congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr. is also releasing some amount for the rehabilitation of the old existing road, on top of his P5 million priority development funds for the construction of 120 Gawad Kalinga rowhouses at the relocation site.
Treñas said Gawad Kalinga is constructing a total of 500 houses at the site, while the Homeless People Federation of the Philippines Inc. and Cliff will build 172 houses. The Italian Embassy is also proposing to build 120 housing units for the beneficiaries.
With the emergence of a new community, the City Government is also eyeing to expand and add more classrooms at the nearby J. Tiongco Elementary School to absorb the influx of children of school age.
The city social welfare office is also proposing a livelihood opportunity program for the beneficiaries.
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