BACOLOD City – The city government here will have to provide financial assistance if affected residents opt out of the housing program.
Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. issued on Dec. 4, 2023 a notice on the voluntary removal on Jan. 8 of the structures occupying portions of government properties affected by the city’s redevelopment project covered by the transfer certificate of title.
The areas covered are Manokan Country, Vendors Plaza, the back of Twilight and Beer Hausen, barangays 10 and 12.
“For residential structures that are qualified for relocation sites, you are hereby directed to process your requirements with the Bacolod Housing Authority on or before Jan. 8, 2024,” it further said.
Failure to process the requirements for the relocation site shall be deemed a waiver for any future assistance that may be extended by the city, the notice also said.
However, Ting confirmed in a media interview on Thursday that the city has no more available home lots at the relocation site in Barangay Vista Alegre to provide for the 35 qualified households affected.
Ting explained that either they will avail themselves of the housing program or they will receive financial assistance, which, under the law, is equivalent to their 90-day salary.
If they avail of the housing, the city will still give financial aid, but less, Ting said.
In an earlier dialogue with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, affected structure owners expressed wanting a lot to transfer whatever construction materials will be left during the demolition.
They also reasoned to the mayor that they do not want the housing either in Barangay Vista Alegre or in the reclamation area because they will find it hard to go up and down in the tenement. This is despite the mayor informing them that there will be an elevator in the housing tenements./PN
