Mariki resettlement area to have electricity soon

THE LOCAL Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) said the energization of the Mariki housing project may start soon or even before the August 30 ultimatum set by Mayor Beng Climaco.

 

Climaco, who chairs the LIAC, has given the various government agencies and private contractors until August 31 to finish the construction of the Z3R housing units for some 720 families displaced by 2013 deadly attacks of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members loyal to Nur Misuari.

Z3R stands for Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction.  

Rodrigo Pagotaisidro, head of the LIAC Secretariat, said the Barangay Council of Mariki passed a resolution that seeks to call off the demolition of illegal structures in the area after residents volunteered to remove them. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has lifted the order that postponed all administrative demolition and eviction activities which was issued last year when the country was under the enhanced community quarantine status due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The DILG also furnished the local government with a copy of the Memorandum Circular No. 2021-031 lifting the demolition ban, virtually allowing the demolition of illegal structures in Z3R resettlement areas.

The LIAC said previously ordered the demolition of illegal structures at the stilt housing project in Mariki to pave the way for the installation of street poles and power lines in the area. It also passed a resolution recently requesting the Barangay Council of Mariki to facilitate the demolition.

Different government agencies and private contractors committed to speed up works on the Z3R projects after Climaco has given the ultimatum. Climaco has repeatedly reminded LIAC members to expedite completion of the projects and the mayor even said that she plans to invite President Rodrigo Duterte for the inauguration of the government projects. 

In her previous meetings, Climaco instructed LIAC members to ensure the remaining 720 families now living in temporary shelters to resettle in their permanent housing units. 

“As mayor and chairperson of LIAC, I have given the agencies concerned a deadline until August 2021 to finish the construction of the housing units and award them to the target beneficiaries - the internally displaced people,” she said, adding, “we want our IDPs to know that we have not forgotten them even as we are currently coping with the Covid pandemic,” said Climaco.

She said her directive was in line with Duterte’s instructions to all government agencies to have their projects, programs and activities completed before his term ends next year.

Last year, Climaco directed LIAC members to ensure continuity of various projects and programs amid the Covid-19 pandemic to help alleviate the plight of families displaced by the MNLF siege.

Supporters of Misuari attacked Zamboanga after declaring independence and their failed attempt to raise the Bangsamoro Republik flag at City Hall. Misuari publicly denied involvement in the siege of Zamboanga that displaced over 200,000 people and affected the economies of Basilan and Sulu which are dependent on Zamboanga for their trades and goods.

Climaco set September 9 as a “Special Day of Remembrance” in honor of all those who perished in the siege that lasted for 3 weeks. Eight years after the deadly attack, residents here are still crying for justice which remains elusive for the innocent victims of the siege. (Zamboanga Post)

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