SANTA CRUZ, Laguna (PIA) – Officials in the region are pushing for a permanent relocation site to shoreland communities which are often submerged in floodwaters when the Laguna lake rises.
The Laguna Lake Development Authority described shoreland communities as extended areas of Laguna De Bay, classified as lake bed and receive water when the lake rises.
The LLDA said communities, who live or have put up establishments in these areas, face the risk of more flooding as Laguna de Bay could no longer receive more water due to climate change issues, pollution, and even drainage problems.
“The low-lying areas, especially those in shoreland areas, naturally get affected by water during the wet season. The problem in some places is the drainage. If the water cannot flow out of those areas, it means the drainage is very poor, and the water cannot exit to the lake,” LLDA Engineer Erwin Mercado said.
In a special meeting by the Calabarzon Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) on December 5, the Office of Civil Defense IV-A recommended the relocation of communities around the lake that remain affected after the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine last October.
It said relocation of residents living in shoreland barangays forms part of the long-term solution on recurring flood problems brought by climate change and pollution in the lake and its tributaries.
In Santa Cruz, Laguna, 563 families or 1,657 individuals remain in evacuation centers as barangays Santisima and San Pablo Norte are still submerged.
According to Santa Cruz MSWDO, a permanent relocation and resettlement site was constructed in Brgy. Uugong but due to lack of livelihood in the area, residents still return to their shoreland barangays.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) IV-A reiterated its readiness to provide technical assistance to conduct social preparation program that will capacitate residents and live in the relocation site for their safety and over-all well-being.
For its part, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) IV-A said that it will endorse to the National Housing Authority (NHA) the affected evacuees or households to become recipients of housing units.
According to LLDA data, there are 29 cities and municipalities and 217 shoreland barangays in Laguna, Rizal, and the National Capital Region facing Laguna de Bay. (CH/PIA-Laguna)
