BACOLOR -- Concerned with the welfare of his constituents who have occupied portions of the tail dike, Mayor Romeo “Buddy” Dungca Jr. on Saturday met with settlers of barangay Mesalipit here to offer them assistance.

Dungca together with eldest son Ron-Ron and Councilor Bong San Pedro met with former Barangay Chairman Roel Ocampo, Kagawads Emer Navarro, Ronald Canlas and some residents in order to find possible solutions to their problems.

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Earlier the local government units (LGUs) of Minalin and Sto. Tomas sought the assistance of the MPE-PMO of the DPWH-3 for the removal of some 60 houses of “illegal settlers” along the Sto. Tomas-Minalin tail dike.

Dungca told Sun.Star that the so-called “illegal settlers” are actually long time residents of Barangay Mesalipit and have been occupying their farm land since time and memorial.

The mayor added that he is willing to provide assistance such as roofing, cement and other materials if his cabalens would opt to relocate elsewhere or go back to evacuations centers in Mabalacat, Magalang or City of San Fernando.

Sebastian Pineda, 60 years old, a farmer and father of four said they only occupied the upper portion of the tail dike when the water level raises or when there is flooding in their farmlands.

Pineda, who tills five hectares of land, said that he and his family have always live in Mesalipit, adding that he and his forefathers were born in Bacolor and have died in Bacolor.

Meanwhile Ocampo, a former village chief of Mesalipit said that most if not all of the families want to stay in the portion of the tail dike since there lands are located there, adding that some even sold their material belongings just to go back to their barangay.

The LGU here together with its counterpart in Sto. Tomas and Minalin are seeking the intervention of the National Housing Authority in order to provide possible relocation for the settler.