BACOLOD City Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran ordered the City Legal Office (CLO)-Enforcement Team to temporarily stop the demolition of houses along the bank of Lupit River at Lacson Extension in Barangay Taculing starting Thursday.
Familiaran said Friday, July 13, the affected families appeared on the regular session on Wednesday and asked the members of the City Council to give them one week to vacate the area.
He said the City Council also approved a resolution, authored by Councilor Reneco Novero, asking the CLO to observe a one-week moratorium for the transfer of the informal settlers to the relocation site in Abada Escay.
He added he also talked with Assistant City Engineer Ephraem Hechanova to consider the request of the affected families.
On Wednesday, the CLO Enforcement Team started the demolition of 25 houses so the city can continue the implementation of bridge widening project in the area.
Familiaran said last year, the City Government already informed the informal settlers to vacate the area and they will be given a relocation site at Abada Escay.
He said the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) was tasked to facilitate the relocation site for the informal settlers.
He added the informal settlers were also required to comply with the requirements to determine if they are qualified to avail the relocation site.
Familiaran noted that there are informal settlers who were awardees of the comprehensive agrarian reform program so they are not qualified to avail the relocation site.
The CLO had earlier issued a notice of ejectment to the said residents, informing them of the plans to widen the Lupit Bridge including its approach.
Familiaran disclosed that after one week, the CLO Enforcement Team will continue the demolition. (MAP)