Local government units do not have the authority to forcibly remove families squatting on government land, Dumaguete City administrator Dominador Dumalag Jr. said yesterday.

Dumalag said an LGU must have prior approval from Malacañang before they can demolish illegal structures, citing as an example those found along the bank of Banica River, and the shorelines of Barangay Tinago.

Many of these structures, mostly built of light materials, were affected by the New Year’s eve flooding of the river and big waves that hit the Tinago area during the weekend.

He said that in 2002, the city had wanted to clear the Banica River of illegally constructed structures along the bank for safety reasons. However, the Department of Interior and Local Government had advised the city to seek approval first from the Office of the President, he added.

A law states that in urban areas, it is prohibited to build structures within an easement of three meters from rivers and creeks, Dumalag said.

Squatters who insist on residing in these areas continue to be at high risk when flooding occurs, he said.

The city government has advised families whose houses were washed away during the recent flooding not to return to the Banica River embankment.

Meanwhile, the City Social Welfare Office is asking for financial assistance from the city for families in the coastal Barangay Tinago whose shanties were damaged by unusually big waves over the weekend.

No one was hurt, but one house was totally washed out.

Jackie Flores of the CSWDO said P13,000 is being requested for the families affected.

She said P5,000 will be given to the family whose house was destroyed and the others will get P500 each.*JFP

back to top