By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
CAINTA, Rizal — Cainta Mayor Atty. J. Keith “Kit” P. Nieto on Wednesday (Oct.1) said “the demolition of structures in the waterways has to consummate. They (informal settlers) should be informed that their structures will have to be demolished.”
In an interview with the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps, Mayor Nieto said “We’re not just talking of one village but we are talking about 40 structures made of cement and light materials.”
“Initially, we were in the right premise, before the expropriation can be resorted to. With all the conditions that the local government have, it has to exercise its police powers,” Nieto said.
“It’s something that they (informal settlers) have already accepted. These are only annexes that they have put up,” he added.
“They (informal settlers) may not be seen in the streets, but they are making their way in the river. Because of the obstruction, the water does not find its route in the waterways,” Nieto said.
“There’s a concomitant fines and penalties on improper garbage and waste disposal,” he added.
A cancer patient recently approached Mayor Nieto and he reached out and found how can the local government can help.
The physician is a big blessing for Cainta who graduated from an international medical school.
” The survival rate on cancer patients will be increased with what funding the local government can offer that seeks to help a cancer patient which is not only a big problem in financing but also in the anatomy of the patient,” Nieto said.
“I can seek help from the DOH. We have to seek the help of a pediatric oncologist to address the children patients of cancer,” he added.
The Cainta Hospital has an MRI of its own that should be open 24/7, and there’s no schedule at night at the ER.
“We have 48 consultants (specialist physicians). We are already complete and we only need sub-specialty. You never cease in whatever you have,” Nieto said.
Nieto noted that before there was no developmental media, but there are now 634 children who underwent the free therapy sessions but for as long as he can, Mayor Nieto will still help these patients.
“Every step of changes is already a big help,” Nieto said.
On the migrants to Cainta, Nieto said that they are strictly implementing the one house one resident per village taking into consideration the peace and order, security as well as the seven-meter wide esplanada where people can walk and putting all those projects in one place.
” We are discouraging migrants to Cainta. If we are able discourage migrants, they will look elsewhere,” Nieto said.
Mayor Nieto faced the problem on migration head on upon assumption to office but it does not mean that he has nothing more to do with it.
“It works well for people who settled to live in Cainta but the local government does not allow businesses who don’t benefit the Caitenos directly,” Nieto said.
“Our priority is Caitenos but health is borderless. How can you still ask the (Hospital) card of a person who is already fighting for his life,” Nieto said.
“In God’s mercy, we have made it in 12 years. I believe in universal parlance,” he added.
Nieto stressed “the problem is that the school is in the national road, but we can ban them (minors) from using motorbikes or bikes but the seniors are allowed.”
“If in case, it’s a national pronouncement.
Initially, the national government allowed the use of ebikes but it was subsequently disallowed,” Nieto said. ###
