DAVAO CITY — To prevent any untoward incident occuring during calamity, the city government of Davao ordered the demolition of about 200 structures mostly constructed near the danger zones and waterways.
Angel Sumagaysay, the chief of the city’s Public Safety and Security Office-River Patrol Monitoring Team (PSSO-RPMT) said about 200 illegally built structures near and ontop of the dikes and water ways were demolished.
The city government, Sumgasay said is preventing the establishment of illegal structures in danger zones especially that El Niño is in the offing as PAGASA warned.
In an interview he said “We need to clear the waterways and riverbanks and most of the structures are located in Talomo District, at SIR, Davao River, as it is now, only a few structures remain standing but we will clear everything”
The city is also demolishing illegal structures in many areas in Barangays Panacan and Bago Gallera.
“Dikes (and bridges) are a form of protection for riverside communities. Once you construct over a dike or bore holes on it, its integrity weakens and it gets damaged, as water enters, the worse can happen, and we noticed that many people are occupying the areas and during flash floods they are the most vulnerable sector” Sumagaysay said.
The illegal structures and the wanton throwing of litters and garbage pose danger not only to the environment but on people because “During heavy downpour, and flashfloods their lives are threatened, we need to prevent it, so we must demolish the same,” he added.
The affected families were given financial assistance anf other goods to make a new start away from the danger zones, he added.-ezc
