MANILA: The Makati City government yesterday reported that 137 of the 236 families who have illegally occupied a city-government property along Guatemala St in Barangay San Isidro have already voluntarily left for a relocation site in Calauan, Laguna.
According to Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) chief and acting city administrator Marjorie de Veyra, of the 17 families that have applied for relocation, nine are now in Calauan while eight more families are being scheduled for transfer.
Meanwhile, 25 families have claimed their checks worth P24,240 ($540) each for financial assistance, with 18 checks ready to be claimed, and 77 more being processed for check preparation to date, De Veyra said.
“We are very thankful that most of the affected residents have peacefully accepted the options we have offered them, thus averting any untoward incident. Our primary goal is to effect the clearing operations without violence or bloodshed,” De Veyra said in a statement.
De Veyra also appealed for the cooperation of the remaining residents in the area to opt for the voluntary relocation and financial assistance being offered by the city government.
The Makati City government through the MSWD has offered the informal settlers three options in order to leave the area.
These are voluntary relocation to a resettlement area in Calauan, Laguna, financial assistance of P24,240 ($540) for those who opt to relocate elsewhere, and free fare and baggage fees and three-day food assistance for those who opt to go back to their provinces.
De Veyra said the Makati City Urban Redevelopment & Housing Board would hold a meeting on Wednesday to update its plan of action on the affected area.
The Philippine star
