By CESAR JOLITO III
The La Castellana municipal government has begun transferring evacuees of Typhoon “Tino” from public school classrooms to temporary family tents as part of efforts to resume face-to-face classes while a longer-term relocation is being prepared.
Municipal public information officer Remuel Lajo said the local government will start relocating displaced families this weekend to newly set up family tents at the Colegio de La Castellana grounds.
The move will free up classrooms that have been serving as evacuation shelters since “Tino” battered the municipality in November.
Out of the 370 displaced families, or 1,339 internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently housed in 13 evacuation centers, the initial priority includes 83 families composed of 319 individuals from La Castellana Elementary School and five families with 12 individuals from Colegio de La Castellana.
“These families will be temporarily sheltered here because classrooms are needed for the resumption of classes,” Lajo said, stressing that the tents are a stopgap measure while the municipality works on permanent housing solutions.
He added that the family tents were erected on elevated ground to minimize the risk of flooding during periods of heavy rain.
Permanent relocation underway
Parallel to the temporary shelter program, the municipal government is moving forward with plans for a permanent relocation site.
An 8.3-hectare property in Barangay Robles has already been secured to accommodate families who were severely affected by the typhoon, particularly those living in identified no-build zones.
Lajo said the local government is awaiting the deed of sale after completing payment through its land banking program.
Development work is also being prepared, noting that the property was formerly a sugarcane field and will require extensive site development before housing construction can begin.
Vice Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan earlier said the landowner agreed to a staggered payment scheme to facilitate the acquisition.
In addition, the municipality has purchased a separate 1,000-square-meter lot in the same barangay to permanently relocate 16 more families.
The Office of Civil Defense has assured La Castellana of assistance in rebuilding damaged roads and bridges, further supporting the municipality’s recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of “Tino.”/CJ, WDJ