TROPICAL Depression “Agaton” displaced thousands of people. It makes us think of pushing for the provision of permanent and safe houses for residents living along coastlines and danger zones to protect them and their properties, particularly in times of natural calamities.
And the government may also declare as “no build” zones areas it deems unsafe for habitation – aside from what is specified in Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 2018 – to perpetually ban people from building houses and other permanent structures in highly dangerous locations.
Every rainy season and especially when there are strong storms, we scamper to save our countrymen who live in coastal and dangerous areas. But even if we can save them, their houses and other property are ruined.
Yes, attention should not only be focused on the construction of a permanent evacuation center. It is more important — and very crucial for people in coastal and dangerous areas – to have permanent, stable and safe housing where they also have a livelihood.
For example, other than the identified “no build” zones in the regions devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, the government has yet to come up with a comprehensive list of high-risk places in the country that should not be inhabited by the population.
Pending the completion of the list as well as the full execution of RA 11038, which prohibits construction of permanent structures within 40 meters from the coastline of protected areas, the national government and local government units should begin identifying relocation sites for families to be affected and set aside a budget for the construction of houses.
Also, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the agency tasked by the law to enforce RA 11038, should hold consultative dialogues with the National Housing Authority (NHA), local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders to address the relocation and housing issues of residents living not only in protected areas but also in locations frequently affected by storm surges and floods.
President Duterte himself has said he is in favor of relocating residents along the “no-build” zones. So let us not gamble the lives and livelihood of citizens whenever there are typhoons like “Yolanda”, “Odette” or “Agaton” due to lack and lack of preparation.
