The Department of Social Welfare and Development took part in the decommissioning of Grandstand Evacuation Center last July 20, 2015 as part of the rehabilitation efforts done towards building back better.

The remaining IDPs were transferred to transitory sites in Kasanyangan and Mampang. However, some of these families opted to return to their place of origin in Lupa-Lupa, Rio Hondo despite the intention of the government to provide them with better shelters— 269 vacant units in Transitory sites.

Lupa-Lupa has been declared as no-return-zone by the LGU, however days prior to the closure, the LGU and BLGU have agreed to allow the families to return to Rio Hondo after the conduct of necessary social preparations.

One of the IDPs said that Lupa-Lupa is their home and that they are more comfortable to stay there rather than to transfer to Kasanyangan and Mampang temporary shelters.

Meanwhile, the DSWD has also committed to implement cash-for-work program for IDPs which forms part of the effort to rehabilitate the Grandstand. The participating IDPs will be paid the amount of Php210.00 per day in exchange of work rendered in repairing the facility.

Early this year, DSWD had already turned-over around 45 million pesos to the CLGU for the construction of recovery shelters and as well as to cover the installation of water, light and sanitary facilities in transitory sites.

Moreover, the IDPs who have been reported to have returned last night to the stadium are currently at Kasanyangan TS. Their transfer was facilitated by DSWD early this morning. The DSWD Regional Office will continuously coordinate with LGU to assist the families in the relocation and explore possible solutions that will address the problems of the IDPs.###