• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government, through the City Legal Office, issued Notices to Vacate to 80 households situated around a creek in Barangay 2 of the city, after the area was officially identified as a danger zone.
Mayor Greg Gasataya announced that the affected residents have been given 30 days to comply with the order.
Barangay 2 Chief Imelda Banguanga confirmed that an initial 37 households will be prioritized for clearing, as their structures are built directly on the creek
“Once they receive financial assistance and relocation [site], that’s the time that they will pull out since they are staying in the creek,” Banguanga said.
Gasataya said the city government is currently coordinating with the Commission on Urban Poor to facilitate the clearing and relocation process.
The mayor has directed the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) to immediately validate any remaining available lots in the city’s existing relocation areas, noting that most sites are already at capacity. However, not all residents are qualified for the housing.
The BHA is currently conducting the screening of qualified beneficiaries for financial assistance and placement in the relocation sites.*
