BACOLOD City – The demolition of 25 illegal structures on the banks of Lupit River in Barangay Singcang-Aiport will resume today.
Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran ordered to stop the demolition of the structures for a week starting July 11.
This was after the owners of the structures appealed before the Sangguniang Panlungsod to give them more time to process their application for relocation at the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA).
Last week, personnel from the enforcement team of the City Legal Office (CLO) started destroying the structures, which are houses of informal settlers living in what City Assistant Engineer Ephraim Hechanova called a “danger zone.”
The demolition was conducted in view of a bridge widening project in the area.
CLO head Atty. Joselito Bayatan said his enforcement team will resume destroying the structures today despite bad weather conditions.
Bayatan added that the bridge project has already been delayed for almost six months.
He stressed that they have to “take time to further assess the area” before starting the bridge project.
“The houses are built on a stiff cliff and really prone to floods, earthquake and landslides,” Bayatan said.
Before the demolition, a clearance from the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor was secured.
The informal settlers will be relocated to the Arao Relocation Site in Barangay Vista Alegre once their applications at the BHA are approved./PN
