Cebu City's 'Balik Probinsya' Initiative for Typhoon Tino Survivors
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is actively exploring a 'balik probinsya' initiative to assist families who lost their homes to the devastating Typhoon Tino. This comes as the city confronts massive destruction, widespread displacement, and a critical shortage of safe relocation sites for its residents.
Weighing the Options: To Stay or To Return Home
In a recent interview, Mayor Archival explained that the City Government is looking at various ways to support affected individuals, particularly those who originally hail from other provinces. The plan involves helping them return to their home regions and providing them with financial assistance for travel.
"I've talked to several barangay captains. If they have people who wish to go back to their provinces, we will assist them and provide financial help for their travel," Archival stated.
However, the mayor also pointed out a significant challenge: many displaced residents prefer to remain in Cebu City. Their decision is heavily influenced by better access to education, ongoing aid programs, and more abundant job opportunities in the urban center. He noted that some people explicitly stated they did not want to return to provincial life due to the absence of free college education, limited aid for senior citizens, and fewer economic prospects.
Declaring Riverbanks as Permanent No-Build Zones
The scale of the damage is immense. Archival reported that approximately 15,000 houses were either destroyed or submerged during the typhoon's onslaught. A vast majority of these were situated along dangerous riverbanks and in areas known to be flood-prone.
"The biggest damage is in the Butuanon area, this is where most of the deaths occurred. That's why we've now declared it a no-build zone. If we continue to build houses near the river, we will keep facing the same problems," the mayor emphasized.
In response, the Cebu City Government has begun the process of identifying and declaring all major rivers and waterways, including the Butuanon River and other tributaries in northern barangays, as official no-build zones to prevent future tragedies.
Addressing Immediate Needs and Long-Term Relocation
Currently, hundreds of families are still taking shelter in evacuation centers, most of which are located in public schools. Mayor Archival confirmed that these individuals will be the first priority for the City's temporary housing program.
Regarding permanent relocation, the goal is to keep families within their own barangays whenever possible. The city administration expects to have a detailed list of potential relocation sites within three to five days.
On the national level, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has pledged its support. The national agency has advised the city to first identify available land suitable for permanent resettlement, after which they will step in to assist.
Archival also disclosed that at least two private subdivisions in northern Cebu City have been found to be encroaching on river easements. The City is now in the process of quantifying these violations to determine the appropriate corrective measures.
In a positive development, the mayor expressed his gratitude to Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan for meeting with the city's delegation to discuss urgent post-disaster needs. During their meeting, Archival raised three critical priorities:
- Clearing debris from the Talamban-Bacayan Bridge.
- Securing relocation assistance and land for housing informal settlers.
- Providing at least 20,000 additional food packs for affected families.
Senator Pangilinan committed to bringing these concerns to relevant national agencies and advocating for the city's relocation requests during the upcoming Senate budget debates.
