537 more families relocated away from Makati waterway

At least 537 families were relocated from a key waterway in Makati City, with 506 of them relocated to Cavite province, the city government said Wednesday.

 

The city government said its engineering department completed the clearing of the Tripa de Gallina creek (estero) covered by Barangay Bangkal.

 

Under the Makati Waterways Resettlement Program along Estero Tripa de Gallina in Barangay Bangkal, the 537 families included:

 

- 218 families relocated to National Housing Authority site in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires, Cavite

- 288 families relocated to NHA Housing in Barangay Hugo Perez, Trece Martires, Cavite

 

The families also got P5,000 in financial assistance from the city government, food assistance for five days and trucking assistance.

 

However, four families did not qualify for relocation and opted to relocate within Metro Manila. They received P5,000 financial assistance and food assistance for five days from Makati.

 

Another two families availed of the Balik Probinsya assistance of the city government, while 25 families failed to qualify for assistance or did not submit the necessary documents.

 

The social welfare department of the city distributes the financial and food assistance to the beneficiaries.

 

The engineering department also assists the relocating families in the transport of personal belongings and housing materials that can still be used.

 

Compliance with SC orders

 

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said the clearing of informal settlers along waterways in the city was in compliance with the Mandamus of the Supreme Court on the clearing of waterways in Metro Manila.

 

Binay said clearing Tripa de Gallina should address the perennial flooding at the intersection of Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue and South Luzon Expressway.

 

The seven-hectare Tripa de Gallina creek traverses Makati and Pasay Cities.

 

It is considered a vital waterway in Makati because it "receives the outfall of 80 percent of the wastewater in the city," the city government said.

 

Clearing the area will optimize the capacity of the seven-hectare canal to prevent floods during a sudden downpour in the area.

 

So far, Binay said the Makati side of the creek in Barangays San Isidro and Bangkal had been fully cleared, while clearing operations have started on the portion in Barangay Pio del Pilar.

 

Clearing operations are almost completed in Barangay Palanan, he added.

 

Binay also said the city government had been supporting the relocation of informal settlers whose lives are endangered by floodwaters along Makati's waterways.

 

He added the city gives the informal setters different forms of assistance "so that they could relocate the soonest time possible and get out of dangerous areas, such as the waterways.”

 

Meanwhile, the city government said its engineering department is finishing the demolition of concrete walls and fences erected by informal settlers along the Tripa de Gallina easement.

 

Most of the informal settlements were erected on the easement area with a few structures going over to the creek and supported by stilts, the city government said.  — ELR, GMA News