Relocation sought for coastal settlers

St.John Bucana Brgy.76-A

BUCANA (76-A) village chief Robert Olan-Olan said Wednesday that he will file a petition to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for a relocation site for residents living along the coast in his barangay who are regularly threatened by monsoon waves.

Last Tuesday, monsoon waves crashed through 153 houses in 14 puroks of Bucana village, sending 338 residents fleeing to safer grounds with just their clothes on.

He said these residents insist on living along the coastline despite the constant threat they face every monsoon season, but Olan-olan said this cannot go on every year.

He would prefer to move the coastal settlers to safer grounds than provide them relief and rehabilitation assistance every year.

"Ang among pabalhinun lang kay kadtong mga wala pay balay jud. Kanang uban sa ila na nakabalhin na gud, gahi lang ug ulo kay mubalik lang gihapon duol sa dagat tungod lang sa ilang (But we will only look for relocation for those who have not yet been relocated before. There are many stubborn residents who insist on returning to the coast even after relocation),” Olan-Olan said.

He said the settlers who were affected by monsoon waves last week were the ones affected by last Tuesday’s waves.

"Busa magsulat ko unya muhangyo sa atong mayor na kung mahimo lang i-relocate ‘tong mga lumulupyo diri nga angay ibalhin. Para man pud ni sa ilang kaayuhan although atong gobyerno maka-provide ug tabang sa ila susama sa pagkaon, pero di ‘ni kanunay (That's why I will write a letter requesting our mayor for a relocation site and to urge the settlers on coastal areas to leave. Government can give them relief and assistance, but we can never sustain this)," he said.

Olan-Olan added that based on initial record, 153 houses from 14 puroks in the barangay were partially damaged.

The City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) has listed 133 families affected so far as enlisted by heads of the household. CSSDO has been assisting the affected residents.

Those living near Times Beach were the most affected. Residents, however, shrugged off the incident, saying they are already used to it.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 02, 2012.