Government set to clear Grandstand by Dec 15

Government set to clear

Grandstand by Dec 15

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) – The city government continues to work to relocate the internally displaced families staying at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex to better and safer areas.

This was announced yesterday, September 15, by Assistant City Administrator and head of the temporary shelter cluster during the regular press briefing at City Hall. According to Apolinario, fifty-three housing units under the Buggoc housing project have already been completed with seventy-three others in various states of construction.

The Buggoc housing project, a joint undertaking of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the city government, aims to construct 200 single detached housing units for Sama de Laut families displaced by last year’s siege. The project has garnered significant support from different private organizations. Furthermore, additional rooms are also being built in Masepla to  accommodate no less than 300 families.

Personnel from the City General Services Office have already cleared the RT Lim Boulevard and relocated affected families to the Masepla transitory site.

“Cawa-Cawa [RT Lim Boulevard] have already been cleared of [internally displaced persons] in the area and we are working now to relocate the more or less 400 families from the grandstand,” Apolinario said. “We are now embarking on a program to relocate them to Masepla and Buggoc.”

Apolinario also revealed initial plans to build 150-200 additional housing units in Buggoc to accommodate the families from the sports complex.

“We have been given a timeline by DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman to close the grandstand by December 15,” he shared.

Apolinario likewise acknowledged the support extended by various government agencies and humanitarian groups to further improve living conditions at the different transitory sites. (Claudine Uniana) (092314)