SP complies with appeals from informal settlers

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The demolition of illegal structures belonging to 25 informal settlers near a riverbank beside the San Antonio Abad Parish Church, located along Lacson Extension in Barangay Taculing, was temporarily stopped through an order by acting Bacolod City Mayor El Cid Familiaran.

The order came in response to the affected families appearing before the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) earlier this week, appealing for more time, wherein the SP crafted a resolution suspending the demolition.

The informal settlers have been receiving notices to vacate since 2013, with the area being tagged a “danger zone” due to frequent flooding and expected to be part of a road widening project.

Assistant City Engineer Ephraim Hechanova, also noted, because of the road widening project, the area is not designated as a residential zone.

He added, the city government has already provided affected families with a relocation site at the Progreso Village, part of the Arao property in Barangay Vista Alegre.

When the demolition commenced earlier this week, one particular informal settler, a certain Mercidita Arroyo, said she is expecting financial assistance from the city government./DGB, WDJ