Dumaguete City, headed by Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, is mulling the leasing of a lot to use for the  temporary shelters of displaced families whose houses were washed out by floods from Tropical Storm Sendong.

Sagarbarria, however, said the plan will need the concurrence of the city council. He added that the P13-million calamity fund of the city is not enough to relocate the families as it is also being used for relief operations.

Latest reports showed that 451 houses were destroyed, 1,772  damaged, and 3,347 families were affected by Typhoon Sendong. Seven persons were reported dead and 266 injured, the mayor said.

Sagarbarria admitted that the city has a problem finding temporary housing sites for the typhoon victims, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development has been requested to provide an additional 60 houses under the government’s Core Shelter Program at a relocation site in Bajumpandan.

Victims of previous flooding in Dumaguete have already availed of the 60 units in the  Bajumpandan housing site that can still accommodate 60 more housing units, he added.

Sagarbarria also said he has requested for the additional houses from DSWD Region 7 Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre, who, he said, had promised P4.2 million next year for it.

He said the city may have to lease land, with the approval of the city council, to build temporary shelters until they can finally be relocated.*JFP

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