"Whether they like it or not, they have to be relocated. It is the government's responsibility to bring them to safer grounds."

This was stressed by Vice President Manuel “Noli” de Castro as he urged the local governments of Taguig and Rizal Province to waste no time in processing the relocation of families living in danger zones to prevent the further loss of lives during typhoons.

De Castro, who is also Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman, said he has advised Rizal Governor Jun Jun Ynares, Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula and Taguig Vice Mayor George Elias to immediately identify the families at risk and make the necessary social preparations for them since their relocation is considered by the government as highly important.

"Let us make the preparations right away. They have to be immediately relocated before another typhoon hits the country and wash out the shanties of the families," the Vice President said.

The Vice President met Ynares, Gacula and Elias during his inspection the other day of the Napindan Channel, a major waterway at the border of Taguig and Taytay which got clogged at the height of typhoon Santi.

Vast settlements along Lupang Arenda, a fully built up landfill along the channel, were washed out as the water level rose due to the clogging.

The incident pushed around 70 families to volunteer for relocation offered by the government but more than a thousand residing outside the dike and within 20 kms inside the dike are firmly holding on to their dangerous homes for no sensible reason.

De Castro, meanwhile, offered the relocation site in Rodriguez Hills, Rodriguez Rizal.

“In effect, this will be an in-town resettlement for the affected families. Development works at these resettlement areas are already at full speed,” De Castro added.