BACOLOD City – Relocation sites in this capital city need more improvements, according to Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Leonardia said he already requested Councilor Renecito Novero, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on urban poor, housing and resettlement, to work on how the city can have “fully developed” relocation sites, particularly the Arao and Abada-Escay sites in Barangay Vista Alegre.
Leonardia said the sites need more water easement and lighting facilities, among others.
The mayor is considering applying for loans for carry out facility improvement projects.
He stressed that the relocations sites will never be “fully developed” if the city government would only depend on the annual budget.
“If we depend on our yearly budget, it will take a long time before a road can be cemented,” Leonardia added.
Leonardia said the city government had applied for a loan for the construction of a 4-kilometer road to Abada-Escay relocation site in 2004.
The road project made travel time faster, from 30 minutes to five minutes, he added.
“This is one reason to believe that it is justified at a certain time for us to borrow money,” Leonardia said.
The mayor stressed that improving the relocation sites is one of his top priorities./PN
