BACOLOD City – The city government reminded barangay officials anew to clear the identified danger zones in their respective areas from informal settlers.
“They [barangay officials] should stop them from coming back. The barangays should cooperate with the city government in monitoring these informal settlers,” said City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr.
Since Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez assumed office in 2022, Ting said one of his administration’s concerns is the informal settlers especially those who are living near the rivers.
“Once these informal settlers are relocated, the barangays should not allow them to return. Barangay officials should help in the clearing of informal settlers occupying danger zones in their respective barangays,” the city legal officer added.
Meanwhile, Ma. Victoria Parrenas, head of the Bacolod City Housing Authority (BHA), disclosed that the city government had recently purchased a lot for additional relocation site and a development plan had been crafted.
Earlier this week, barangay captain Lady Gles Pallen of Taculing, who is also the Liga ng mga Barangay president, said there are currently around 10 informal settler families living under the Taculing-Alijis bridge in the village’s Purok Paglaum.
She is scheduled to hold a dialogue with them on September 23.
Pallen added the said area under the bridge was identified as a danger zone and had been cleared of informal settlers three years ago./PN
