CAGAYAN DE ORO—More than 5,000 families are still without basic shelter despite the millions of pesos poured by the national government and donors four years ago when Tropical Storm “Sendong” destroyed their homes four years ago.
Ermin Pimentel of Xavier University’s Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana-Social Involvement Office blamed “local politics” and the absence of a local government agency to coordinate efforts to provide shelters for typhoon victims.
“There are still more than 5,000 flood victims without decent basic shelter four years after Sendong. That is very sad,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel said political bickering between Mayor Oscar Moreno and the city council is threatening a project that would have been funded by a Japanese government grant to build 722 houses for Sendong victims.
He said the opposition-dominated city council have blocked the passage of a resolution that would allow the city government to release P27 million to buy a five-hectare parcel of land for the flood victims because of the fear of corruption.
“The city council composed of councilors against Mayor Moreno have consistently ask for many requirements that we are scared that the Japanese government would take away the grant money,” Pimentel said.
Councilor President Elipe of the opposition Padayon Pilipino party said the city council is demanding the requirements to ensure the equitable distribution of benefits after former Mayor Vicente Emano claimed many residents from Moreno’s hometown of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental where given houses to the detriment of Sendong victims.
Pimentel denied the charge adding the recipients of relocation shelters were those listed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Emano was defeated by Moreno in the 2013 elections largely on allegations that the former mayor mishandled the rescue and recovery efforts at the time of Sendong.
Pimentel said more than 3,824 shelters were built during the time of Emano right after Sendong while another 3, 214 relocation houses were constructed during the present administration of Moreno.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Northern Mindanao said more than 12,000 houses were destroyed when flash floods overflowed from the banks of the Cagayan de Oro River .
