LINGAYEN–Nine months after the May 1 groundbreaking of the Pangasinan Resettlement Project last year in Barangay Pangapisan Norte here, the conduct of Geological Site Scoping (GSS) and the preparation of Engineering, Geological and Geohazard Assessment (EGGA) for the proposed subdivision in the area have been approved.

For this, Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. will soon enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) represented by Regional Director Carlos Tayag after board members of the province have authorized him in a resolution passed last March 4.

With the presence of the late Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo, Espino announced during the groundbreaking of the resettlement project: “It is the fulfillment of a promise I made earlier with the informal settlers in the barangay.”

The Governor also affirmed that the provincial government will provide the important needs of a small community with the project.

The P30-million resettlement project is located in a 2.4 hectare lot with floor area for houses of 27 square meters and 54 square meters. It aims to benefit some 200 informal settlers living in hazardous areas like riverbanks, shorelines and public places.

The GSS and EGGA, which shall assure environmental conservation, human life protection and the need to provide affordable shelter for the homeless and underprivileged, are needed to br conducted by reason of the geographic, geologic and tectonic setting of the province which is prone to several geologic and natural hazards.

Moreover, to comprehensively address and mitigate the impending impacts of geological hazards, the implementation of the subdivision development project and other development and infrastructure development projects of the provincial government shall be guided with the EGGA as required by the DENR for the issuance of Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Partnership with key shelter agencies, shelter financing institutions and private sector has been established by the provincial government for the development of housing projects for the homeless and underprivileged families in the province.

The implementing rules and regulations of the ECC are supported by Presidential Decree No. 1586 and Presidential Proclamation No. 2146.

The conduct of the GSS and EGGA is in pursuance of the mandates of the Urban Development and Housing Act of the 1992 (Republic Act 7279) and the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160). (PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)

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