Rehab czar not seen in area since his appointment
Five barangays in Bugasong town in Antique province suffered its worst flood this year because of an unfinished Yolanda relocation site complained residents during a fact-find mission conducted by the Kilusang Pagbabago.
The incident happened on October 20, 2017 or 20 days before the country marks the fourth year since the super typhoon carved a large path of destruction across the Visayas last November 8, 2013.
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| A look at the Yolanda housing project in Lacayon, Bugasong town in Antique. At the background are some rice fields affected by a flash flood that hit the day before this photo was taken by the KP Region 6 team. |
“Sa sinkwentay sinco anyos ko dya nga puyu sa Lacayon wara ko ka eksperyensia kang amu nga dya nga baha (In the 55 years I lived in Lacayon, I have not experienced floods until now),” said Consolacion Espino of Barangay Lacayon, Bugasong.
Tagged as the fifth and the most devastating flood this year, the waters inundated Barangays Puho, Hatay-Hatay, Calog, Lacayon and Cubay in South Bugasong.
Some 35 residents, who attended a community dialogue conducted by a Kilusang Pagbabago team headed by Fr. Jose Elmer Cajilig, KP lead convenor for Region 6, pointed at a nearby housing project by the National Housing Authority (NHA).
The project, being constructed by EDDMARI Construction and Trading, will have 1,787 units once completed. No Yolanda survivor-family has yet been relocated in Lacayon.
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| This is a view of the dried up creek that overflows when strong rains pour. Note that the eroded ground has slowly crept towards one housing unit. (Photo by the KP Region 6 Team) |
According to the residents, the construction firm bulldozed the hilly and forested portion of Barangay Lacayon and reclaimed four creeks. The waters from the creeks are dumped into a single tributary when it rains and causes the flooding.
On August 22, 2016, some 82 residents signed a complaint addressed to Mayor John Lloyd M. Pacete of Bugasong, Antique, a copy of which was furnished to the Presidential Action Center.
Mayor Pacete has not acted on the plea neither has he acted on a letter dated January 29, 2017 from Presidential Action Center Director Jaime Llaguno Mabilin.
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| This is a view of the dried up creek that overflows when strong rains pour. Note that the eroded ground has slowly crept towards one housing unit. (Photo by the KP Region 6 Team) |
During a recent statement, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino has blamed uncooperative local government units (LGUs) and members of a pro-Duterte organization.
Lacayon residents, however, said Dino has not visited the area since the presidential order designating him as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Yolanda housing czar.
Dino also had been accused by Yolanda survivors in Tacloban City for failing to follow up on the completion of Yolanda housing projects.
Feeling neglected and uncared for, the Lacayon villagers sought the help of Kilusang Pagbabago. Fr. Cahilig of KP Region 6 said he is bringing the concern of Lacayon residents to the attention of President Duterte through Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr.
