Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria said he has proposed to the National Housing Authority and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the construction of 1,050 houses in aan 8-hectare lot in Barangay Banilad as an offshoot of tropical storm Sendong.

“This is something new, not just a housing resettlement, but we are creating a new community,” that is acceptable  to the National Housing Authority andthe Department of Social Services and Development, he said.

He  suggested thatthis community be made a modelthroughout the country as it will have a commercial complex, and the amortization will be  very affordable.

To be given priority are the 473 families in Dumaguete whose houses werewiped out by the floods, and the remainder  will be  pre-determined by  the DSWD,  for  families whose houses were damaged.

However, Sagarbarriaalsostressed that  nothing is final yet as  negotiations are ongoing, especially over the source of funds  pegged at P1 billion.

Sagarbarria has also  directed the City Engineer’s Office to put up demarcation lines along the banks of  the Banica River  so  illegal settlers will  keep away from the danger zone, an easement of three meters in the urban area and 20 meters in the rural area is required under the law PD 1067, he said.

Defiance of the mayor’s directive will authorize Task Force Sagar to demolish their structures and relocate them.*JG

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