The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) admitted on Friday that there is no place to permanently relocate all the thousands of families dwelling along riverbanks in Marikina City and other danger zones in Metro Manila.

“It would be dangerous for the informal settlers living along high-risk areas, but there’s no place for them at this point in time,” said MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, also Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee on Informal Settlers (MMIAC) head.

Fernando told local government units to be more responsible in addressing the squatting problem in their localities.

The MMIAC earlier identified at least 5,000 squatter families as the initial beneficiaries of its Comprehensive Shelter Program (CSP) for informal settlers in Metro Manila.

However, Fernando said he expects the number of families needing to be relocated to increase after the onslaught of tropical storm “Ondoy” which swamped the eastern part of Metro Manila two weeks ago.

In Marikina alone, thousands of homeless families along Marikina River will not be allowed to return to their homes along the riverbank.

Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando said these families were forced out of their homes when the flood rose by more than six feet, submerging their houses.

She said more than 400 families were given housing units in Biñan, Laguna.

“We have no choice but tanggalin na sila doon,” said the mayor, those residing in Tumana, Barangay Fortune, Riverside A and B, Malanday, Tanong, and Sto. Niño areas.