Representatives from concerned city and national government agencies Friday morning, October 27, engaged families affected by the government’s massive Riverbank Protection Project in barangay Tugbungan, specifically sitios Royal Lane and Dakkak where construction has commenced.
Like in the 2 information sessions held in Tetuan and Tumaga Thursday, October 26, riverbank dwellers in Tugbungan aired concerns about relocation, payment of structures and the provision of assistance among others during the info car held at the Tugbungan barangay hall Friday.
Mayor John Dalipe’s Executive Assistant on Housing Affairs Engr. Al Urao and representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Commission on Human Rights, City Assessor, Housing and Land Management Division, Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources answered queries from the participants.
In sitio Dakkak, Tugbungan, 8 families with 37 individuals will have to be relocated, as the DPWH has commenced the implementation of a flood control project in the area. In sitio Royal Lane, where a flood control project with esplanade will be constructed, a total of 21 families with 63 individuals will be affected.
Engr. Urao said Mayor John Dalipe and District II Cong. and Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, who initiated the massive Riverbank Protect Project, are bent on pursuing the project following the necessary procedures.
The DPWH representative said the agency will not implement the project if the site is not cleared of families and structures, a concern that is under the jurisdiction of the city government.
The project however has kicked off in sitio sitio Dakkak, Tugbungan and in the Jumbo bridge (near the ICES campus) in Tetuan.
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook page, photo courtesy by Miljohn Mancao | Bernadeth Lazaro-CMO-PIO)