THE City Government of Bacolod will provide relocation sites to at least 80 qualified informal settler families (ISFs) who were affected by the flood control project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in various barangays in the locality.

Councilor Vladimir Gonzalez, chairperson of the City Council's committee on urban poor, housing and resettlement, led the public hearing Tuesday, March 7, at the Session Hall with the representatives of DPWH, Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) and the barangay officials.

Of the 97 identified ISFs who were affected by the flood control projects in Barangays 2, 3, 40, Mansilingan, Singcang-Airport, and Taculing, at least 80 of them were qualified, Gonzalez said.

He said City District Engineer Abraham Villareal has asked for assistance in providing housing relocation sites to the families affected by their projects.

He added that the qualified ISFs were evaluated by the BHA.

Gonzalez noted that some houses were occupied by at least two families, and only one of them will be qualified for the relocation site.

He said that before the implementation of the flood control project, the DPWH also coordinated with the local government unit.

"It's important to inform us, so that we are aware and we can address the problem immediately," he said.

He said they are hopeful that by next year, the city's housing project will be completed to accommodate all the ISFs.*