Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso yesterday assured illegal settlers on Estero San Antonio Abad in Malate, Manila that they will be properly relocated as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources starts the rehabilitation of the polluted creek.
“Habang nililinis ‘yung creek, may puso naman ‘yung DENR sa mga kababayan nating mahihirap na mailagay sa ayos yung maapektuhang pamilya,” Domagoso said during an inspection of the creek.
The Manila mayor said that 50 of the illegal settler families removed from the estero will be relocated by the National Housing Authority in Tala, Caloocan City on July 26.
“Kung tatanungin nila ang payo ko, dakmain na nila itong pagkakataong ito. You will never know kung mayroon pang pamahalaan na talagang lilingunin ng may konting titig sa sitwasyon nila,” he said.
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said 20 out of 70 families are still living near the polluted creek.
Cimatu said their priority is to cleanup the creek because its trash and pollutants end up at the Manila Bay.
“Priority natin ang estero na ito na linisan dahil pumupunta ito directly sa Manila Bay,” Cimatu said.
The DENR chief said that they are planning to demolish fences near the creek to allow more space for garbage trucks and people.
“We will eventually demolish the fences para mag-comply sa batas which is three meters kung may space tayo na mapaglinisan,” Cimatu said.
“Ang problema dito kung hindi nakakapasok ‘yung garbage truck dito sa esteros. You can just imagine kung hindi nakakapasok, itatapon na lang ang basura sa estero,” he said. (Erma Edera)
