Duterte bares plan to relocate slum dwellers in Davao City

President Rodrigo Duterte (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

DAVAO CITY — President Duterte said he would relocate informal settlers here to pave the way for new roads and ease traffic.

In a dinner with the urban poor in the city on Friday evening, Duterte appealed to residents to cooperate with the planned relocation.

“I will relocate you. Give me a year,” Duterte addressed the settlers in the local vernacular.

Duterte said the traffic situation in the city must be immediately addressed by clearing several areas of informal settlers to allow it to be used by the planned re-routing of the flow of vehicles.

“The traffic problem is slowly worsening. Something must be done,” Duterte said.

Duterte spent about an hour with over 103 families who have been residing along the road in Purok 35, Acacia Street in Barangay 76-A.

“I will really move you. But do not worry, there will be no demolition without relocation,” Duterte promised.

The one-year timeframe, Duterte said, would be for preparing the area for economic development that would involve small enterprises.

Duterte asked for understanding, explaining that the sacrifice of the 103 families to be relocated would be for the benefit of the majority.

“The complaint of businessmen, workers and all ordinary residents is that the traffic is already too much a burden,” Duterte said.

The President, however, said that the traffic has signalled that more economic activities — thereby progress — have bloomed in the city.

“If compared to a tree, it has bloomed and is now bearing fruit,” Duterte said.  SFM