BACOLOD City – Mayor Greg Gasataya has pledged to provide safer and more secure homes for the 295 families displaced by the September 12 fire in Barangay 27.
In a consultation meeting held on September 16 at the Bacolod City Government Center, attended by city officials, representatives from national agencies, and barangay leaders, the mayor presented a comprehensive plan to prioritize the safety and well-being of affected residents.
The first phase involves clearing debris from the fire-hit area to make it safe before residents can return. Among those displaced is 92-year-old Pilar Buenafe, who is blind and expressed her longing to go back home.
“I just wanted to go home,” she said, echoing the sentiments of many fire victims.
Gasataya acknowledged their concerns but stressed the importance of safety.
“I feel you and I truly understand, but we don’t want anybody getting hurt. That’s why I’m asking you to let us ensure your safety first, because for now, that is our priority,” he said.
The mayor also unveiled a long-term on-site housing development plan that will include proper road networks and a drainage system. He noted that discussions are ongoing with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) through its regional director, Eva Maria Marfil, for a potential partnership. The proposal includes a Presidential Proclamation for the donation of more than 7,787 square meters of national government-owned land for the project.
Punong Barangay Freeman Madalag has expressed full support for the city’s proposal.
While the plan remains in its early stages, Gasataya assured fire survivors that the local government is committed to helping them rebuild their lives.
“That’s the long-term goal — an ownership and a place they can truly call home. Rest assured, the local government of Bacolod will always be here to help you in whatever way we can,” he said.
The September 12 fire in Purok Ceriza 2 left 145 homeowners, 105 sharers, and 44 renters displaced. The city government has committed P15,000 in cash assistance for totally destroyed houses and P10,000 for partially damaged ones.
Meanwhile, personnel from various city offices — including the Public Affairs and Assistance Division (PAAD), Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), City Legal Office (CLO), City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO), and the City Administrator’s Office — together with volunteers from different organizations, are repacking and distributing donations. Bulk clothing donations are being sorted and prepared at the evacuation center at Apolinario Mabini Elementary School./PN
