Toledo City is planning to decongest barangay Lutopan, one of the most highly populated communities in the city where 15 houses were destroyed by fire last Sunday dawn.
While the city government has already given immediate assistance to the fire victims, Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmena said that this has long been his plan for Lutopan, the site of the former Atlas Consolidated Mining Corporation.
Lutopan is the biggest barangay in terms of land area and population in Toledo City.
“A fire in Lutopan could be catastrophic. Fortunately, only 15 houses were destroyed,” said Osmeña during Monday night’s press conference held in Cebu City.
“From the very beginning, many years back when I was still a congressman in 1995, I was always saying that we have to put up a housing project so that we will decongest the barangay of Lutopan. And until now, I am still saying that,” Osmeña said.
Now that he is mayor, Osmeña said he will push for the relocation of several residents in Lutopan through a housing project. Among the areas eyed for resettlement include barangays Media Onse and Magdugo.
Toledo City is looking at buying several hectares of land for the housing project with access roads and other amenities like a community center. These however are still on planning stages.
“Ang mga tao sa lutopan karon walay tubig. Ato silang ingnon na pamalhin mo kay tagaan nato sila ug tubig [Resident in Lutopan now have no water. We are now telling them to relocate, where we will provide water connections.] That is a big incentive to make them transfer,” said Osmena on the barangay’s perennial water supply problem.