BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government of Negros Occidental is eyeing two properties in Barangay Talaptap, La Castellana, to be purchased for use as permanent relocation sites for internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz disclosed that acceptability of the permanent relocation sites for those affected will be the basis for the provincial government for the procurement of the properties.
This is to ensure that the evacuees will stay at the new site ,and not return to their homes inside the 6-kilometer danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano, Diaz said.
He said the owners of the Talaptap properties will submit a letter-offer, and the province will respond by sending an appraisal committee for the valuation of the property.
If the site is acceptable to the displaced residents and the local government officials of La Castellana, then the provincial government will start the procurement process of the property, Diaz said.
One property in Talaptap is 8 hectares and the other is 11 hectares, he said.
The 11-hectare property is near the Talaptap barangay hall and a school, which makes it an ideal permanent relocation site, Diaz said.
The displaced La Castellana residents cannot be brought to evacuation centers outside of the town because that would be far from their livelihoods and the schools of their children, Diaz added.
The provincial government is aiming to relocate the IDPs residing within the four kilometer permanent danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano.
While the provincial government will continue to provide food assistance to the evacuees who were relocated to camps outside of schools within La Castellana, we are also planning livelihood opportunities for the evacuees, Diaz said. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)
