The Bacolod City government is working on the acquisition through donation of a lot in Barangay 27, titled under the name of an already terminated United States (US) agency, to set up a housing project for informal settlers displaced by a fire in the area on September 12.
The affected dwellers, numbering almost a thousand, are presently staying at the evacuation center in Apolinario Mabini Elementary School.
Mayor Greg Gasataya, who met with village officials and representatives of the affected residents at the Government Center yesterday afternoon, said they have obtained a copy of the transfer certificate of title, showing the land belongs to the Philippine Alien Property Administration.
The 7,787-square-meter property is the area occupied by 289 families or 993 individuals of Purok Cheriza who lost their homes to a blaze just before dawn last Friday.
Gasataya said the city government “will do everything that we can to ensure that the property which is owned by the government will be donated to the city,” adding that they are taking steps to determine which agency they can work with regarding the matter.
“Hopefully, the national government will donate this land to the city so we can set up a housing program for the residents, some of whom have been living there for 50, 40 years already,” the mayor said in an interview.
Various online sources showed the Philippine Alien Property Administration was established on October 14, 1946, through Executive Order (EO) 9818, representing the interests of the US government.
On June 29, 1951, the agency was terminated by EO 10254 of then US President Harry Truman, and all its rights, powers, duties and functions, as well as the properties vested in it, were transferred to the US Attorney General.
“In the event the property will be owned by the city government and they can rebuild their houses, it would be better if pathways can be constructed within the site for their own protection. We are working on this urgently,” Gasataya said.
Meanwhile, he said the city government has several shelter options available for the displaced residents, including transferring to the city’s relocation site.
“If you want to transfer to the relocation site, the city will then provide you with what you need,” he said. (PNA)