ILOILO City – The city government came to the aid of 32 families who were ordered ejected from a private-owned lot in Barangay Jereos, La Paz district.
Lawyer Edmundo Buensuceso, head of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office, said the families were alarmed by the release of a demolition order following an ejectment case filed against them.
Buensuceso said the families would be accommodated on a six-hectare government-procured lot in Barangay Lanit in Jaro district.
But the families would only be allowed to establish temporary shelters because the site has yet to be developed.
“At least, they have a lot where they could not be ejected anytime,” said Buensuceso.
The families received from the city government materials they needed for sanitation such as water drums, pipes and pumps.
They are expected to start moving to the new site anytime next week.
“No actual demolition will take place because they will be having this relocation site,” said Buensuceso.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III said the provision of the relocation site to affected individuals and groups will continue as part of the city government’s Pag-ulikid community outreach program.
The 32 families were the first batch to be accommodated at the Barangay Lanit relocation site since Espinosa assumed as mayor in October last year.
He added that aside from the relocation site, the city government, through Pag-ulikid, has turned over two of 11 committed patrol cars to the Iloilo City Police Office.
They are expecting additional vehicles to be given to the Philippine Coast Guard and other departments of the city to boost the delivery of services. (PNA)
