BACOLOD City fire marshal Publio Plotena said Tuesday, December 18, that officials of Barangay 8 can still make an appeal to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Western Visayas so their village hall will not be demolished.
Plotena, who held a meeting recently with the officials of Barangay 8, said they should send their letter to the BFP regional office to air their appeal to the director.
“I’m only representing the BFP and I cannot decide on their status in the area. It will be the regional director or the legal department that can make a decision,” Plotena said.
Village chief Joanna Magalona earlier sought the assistance of the city officials after they received a letter from the BFP regional office that they will demolish the structures situated near the BFP-Bacolod building.
The lot, where the barangay hall is situated, is owned by the Provincial Government and the BFP is planning to rehabilitate its building, so it is requesting the officials to vacate, including the 18 houses in the area.
Plotena said that based on the deed of donation, it stated that the area is exclusively used for BFP and the plan is now at the national headquarters.
“The BFP will rehabilitate and develop the area because we also need more space to improve our services and the rehabilitation of BFP building is not only in Bacolod City but also in some areas in Negros Occidental,” he said.
He added that once the bidding is approved, the BFP will execute the rehabilitation of the area and they will demolish the barangay hall and the 18 affected houses.
Plotena said they also asked for assistance from the City Government for the relocation site of the affected families. (MAP)