Guinobatan, Albay mayor wants relocation for residents in lahar-prone areas

The mayor of Guinobatan, Albay on Tuesday said residents in areas prone to lahar flows should be relocated as a long-term solution to keep them safe from the hazard.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Guinobatan Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco is also hoping that the national government will help the town to do the relocation with a livelihood program.

“Ang long term sana po, ma-relocate sila. Alisin na po sila doon sa area na prone to lahar. Sana with livelihood doon sa area na paglilipatan,” Ongjoco said.

She noted that the local government unit (LGU) already secured a property where new houses can be built.

But she pointed out that they need the help of the national government and non-government organizations for the housing project.

“Actually, 'yung LGU, may lupa na na ready pagtayuan ng bahay na kung mabibigyan ng NGO o national government, mabigyan ng pabahay. Ready ang LGU sa property na malayo po sa hazard,” she said.

On Sunday, Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) triggered lahar mudflows in Barangay San Francisco burying an estimated 300 houses.

Ongjoco said only barangays Maninila and Tandarora were expected to be affected by the lahar flow. However, the path of the lahar mudflows changed and hit other barangays amid Rolly’s onslaught, she added.

Based on the report of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 5 on Monday, at least seven people died in Guinobatan due to Rolly.

Albay was one of the areas hit hardest by Rolly. After the super typhoon made its first landfall over Bato, Catanduanes, Rolly made a second landfall in Tiwi, Albay. —KG, GMA News