Transfer of tent city folk difficult, says NDRRMC Chief

MANILA, Philippines—Even nearly seven months after Super Typhoon “Yolanda” struck the Philippines, the task of relocating survivors at evacuation camps remains difficult.

In a media briefing during the Asia-Europe Meeting Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Alexander Pama, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said it would be difficult to relocate “Yolanda” survivors from tent cities to new homes.

He said when he met with Rehabilitation Czar Panfilo Lacson, they were confronted with the issue of land use.

“We just cannot say ‘alright transfer’ no,” Pama said Thursday at the Diamond Hotel.

“We need to look at the impact.”

Pama said houses could not be built on other areas, such as coasts.

He added that relocating citizens has a huge impact, citing the example of a fisherman who will be plucked out from his source of livelihood and relocated to an area far away from the sea.

“We need to look at the impact, it involves issues such as the comprehensive land use,” Pama said.

He, however, assured that the Philippine Government is putting its resources to address the issue.

Also, Pama said that he grieves for the victims of the fire that hit the tent city, killing a mother and her five children on May 28.

“We feel the grief of those families who have to face such issues,” Pama said. “We want to make it clear that the government is on a holistic basis so that we can give immediate solutions.”

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