Thirty-two families living near the Batiano River in Oton will soon relocate to safer homes under the Iloilo Provincial Government’s Purok Resilience Program (PRP), a localized housing initiative for communities vulnerable to disasters.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Oton PRP was held at the project site in Barangay Botong on Wednesday, Sept. 23, led by Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann Debuque and Oton Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr.
The families will be relocated to a 2.3-hectare property owned by the municipal government, about nine kilometers from the town proper.
The provincial government has allocated P40 million for site development and the construction of 32 housing units, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has earmarked P14 million for basic facilities based on the needs of the beneficiaries.
Of the 32 families, 15 are from Poblacion North, seven from Barangay San Antonio and 10 from Barangay Tagbak Sur.
Fusin thanked the provincial government for bringing the PRP to Oton, particularly for families affected by recurring flooding.
“Through this project, we are not only laying the foundation of a house, but also the foundation for the safety and dignity of our fellow residents who will have a good and secure place to live,” he said.
Defensor said the PRP is a strategic initiative of the provincial government to provide safe, resilient and community-based housing for families exposed to disaster risks, consistent with Executive Order No. 333.
“We want to relocate families away from danger, and we want to provide them with decent housing near their sources of livelihood,” he said.
According to the governor, similar housing projects are being lined up in Santa Barbara, Pototan and Concepcion.
The Oton project also brings together national agencies and local governments, with the DSWD, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Office of Civil Defense, LGUs and socio-civic organizations supporting the initiative.
Defensor also presented the beneficiaries with the first PRP site in Batad, where triplex housing units feature bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and living areas.
The units are equipped with ceramic floor tiles, fiber cement board ceilings, insulated metal roofing designed to reduce heat gain and rooftop solar panels.
Beyond relocation, the provincial government is also pursuing measures to address flood risks along the Batiano River through the Balik Batiano River Development Project.
The proposed project includes the development of linear parks along the river. While still in the planning and development stage, dredging and riverbank-clearing activities are already underway.
The provincial government said the combination of safer housing and river rehabilitation is intended to reduce disaster risks while helping vulnerable families build more secure communities.IMT
