By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Sixty-three informal settler families (ISFs) near Mansaya Creek, a tributary of the Iloilo River, will be relocated as part of efforts to rehabilitate the waterway.
Atty. Peter Jason Millare of the City Local Housing Office said the Department of Public Works and Highways-Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) will fund the relocation of the ISFs in the area.
The proposed relocation site is a portion of a city-acquired lot in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, covering 957 square meters. Millare also mentioned that 11 ISFs from Sinikway, Lapuz, will be relocated to the same site.
On Wednesday, October 2, the Iloilo City Council passed a Resolution of No Objection, allowing the use of the identified lot for the relocation project.
“When DPWH met with us, they had already earmarked a budget, and the implementation is scheduled for this year,” Millare added.
One of the priority projects in the city government’s 2021-2029 Comprehensive Land Use Plan includes the greening of waterways such as the Batiano River, Rizal Creek, Dungon Creek, Ingore Creek, Mansaya Creek, Calajunan Creek, and Budburan Creek.
For the relocation site, it was recommended that the land be raised to prevent potential water accumulation and flooding by grading the area or adding fill materials, especially since there is no formal drainage system in place.
The current drainage at the site is inadequate, as indicated by a waterlogged culvert.
The relocation site is approximately 250 meters from the nearest waterworks system, and it is recommended to extend the water lines to ensure a reliable water supply for the families.
Temporary water storage and distribution may be done using water tanks.
Additionally, the site is about 250 meters away from the nearest power lines. As a temporary measure, generators can be considered during the initial stages of development.
