DENR giving ‘hot’ lumber to rebuild razed Jolo houses

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has committed to providing some 300,000 board feet of lumber for rebuilding the houses of residents in three villages of Jolo, Sulu, which were razed early this month.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Manny Piñol said DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu has told him the materials would come from flitches and lumber confiscated by authorities.

The February 3 fire has affected some 2,739 families who lived in 1,377 houses in the coastal villages of Chinese Pier, Takut-Takut, and Tulay.

Piñol led a team doing an initial assessment in Jolo last week so they can map out a rehabilitation program.

Citing the views of the Jolo local government leaders, Piñol said relocating the affected families “is not a strategic option” since there is no available land for them, and “it will take them away from their livelihood which is fishing.”

He added that local officials identified housing and footbridge reconstruction as most urgent.

The MinDA chief has recommended the setting up of an Infrastructure Management Advisory Group to lead in the housing reconstruction program

Apart from the local government, MinDA is looking at pulling into the rehab effort the military and the private sector.

Last week, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go also visited the Jolo evacuation areas and pledged to provide P6,000 cash assistance to each family through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Edited by Lzb