By CESAR JOLITO III

The Bacolod City government is moving to demolish an abandoned building along 4th Lacson Street that has long served as a refuge for street children and informal settlers, citing safety and public order concerns.

The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) Anti-Mendicancy Task Force confirmed that the dilapidated structure has become a squatting area for families of street dwellers, many of whom rely on begging and informal parking fees for income.

Reports from nearby residents also alleged that some individuals harass motorists and vandalize vehicles if they refuse to pay, while children frequenting the area have been seen engaging in solvent-sniffing.

DSSD head Sally Abelarde said the task force, along with the City Legal Office, had already inspected the property and is set to coordinate with its private owner regarding the planned demolition.

The move is part of Bacolod’s intensified anti-mendicancy campaign, which has also resulted in the recent rescue of at least 15 minors in joint operations with Police Station 1 around Mandalagan and the Bacolod Public Plaza.

City officials emphasized that rescued children are being turned over to social workers for intervention, with efforts focused not only on dismantling unsafe shelters but also on providing proper care and rehabilitation for vulnerable minors./CJ, WDJ