THE city government of Makati has distributed cash assistance to fire victims at Laperal compound to encourage them to voluntarily leave the fire-razed property in Barangay Guadalupe Viejo.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the city is providing P3,000 for individuals and P5,000 for families as cash assistance, particularly for individual boarders and families renting rooms inside the compound.

Based on a census conducted by the city Social Welfare Department (SWD), 90 per cent of the settlers in Laperal compound are either boarders or are renting rooms at rates ranging from P1,000 to P3,000 per room a month. Several individuals have been renting out as much as 15 to 20 rooms to boarders or families.

Only around 400 families -– out of over 2,000 families staying at Laperal compound -– are considered actual residents, according to the SWD.

“We will provide assistance to those in need, but we will not tolerate the activities of those who profit from misery,” he said.

According to the Mayor, Makati will also provide additional help for those who want to return to their provinces under the “Balik Probinsya” program, avail themselves of housing units from the National Housing Authority (NHA), or relocate to city government-owned relocation centers in Calauan, Laguna and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

“Those who opt for relocation will continue to receive benefits as Makati residents such as subsidized hospitalization, and the city government will pay for the cost of construction materials. We will only ask them to take part in the construction. This will be their sweat equity,” he said.

At the same time, the owner of the Laperal Compound dropped by unannounced at the Mayor’s office Monday morning and sought the help of the city government in securing his property which has been occupied by informal settlers for decades.

Oliverio Laperal, 90, owns the controlling share of LTC Real Estate, owner of the 2,000-hectare Laperal compound. The company has been paying real property taxes to the city for all the years it has been occupied by settlers.

Binay assured Laperal that the city government will provide help to the fire victims, including their relocation.

“I will totally cooperate with you,” he said. As private owner of the property, he told the mayor that he has not given permission to anyone to return to the property.

The mayor also told Laperal that the city government considers the compound a danger zone. Aside from the series of fires that have gutted shanties in the compound, several infrastructures like billboards have been affected by the fire and pose a hazard to residents, he said.

The compound also lacks sanitation facilities, has no water, and littered with illegal electrical connections.

Meanwhile, the city government declared the compound a Danger Zone and has ordered the Makati police and barangay officials to stop residents from returning, citing safety concerns.