BY MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City – Over 60 informal settlers in Barangay Handumanan urged the city government to relocate them.
The squatters are currently occupying an area at the Negros Economic Development Foundation, Inc. but others have started encroaching the sidewalks.
They made it clear they wanted to be relocated to another area but still within the village, said Councilor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on urban poor, relocation and resettlement.
He held a public hearing with the informal settlers at the city council session hall yesterday.
Some 24 families working near NEDF asked to be relocated but still within the barangay, Familiaran said.
These families were allowed to stay at the NEDF but only during daytime.
Familiaran said all the lots at the city’s relocation site in Barangay Handumanan had long been apportioned to previous informal settlers.
However, some lots had been abandoned or sold by their owners, Familiaran said.
The Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) is validating the application of 24 informal settlers, said Familiaran.
As of last month, more than 500 informal settlers visited his office asking for relocation.
Josephine Segundo, BHA head, said 900 relocation lots are available but in Barangay Vista Alegre.
The Barangay Vista Alegre relocation site is 58 hectares wide but only 24 hectares are currently occupied.
Segundo said the relocation site there can still accommodate thousands of informal settlers./PN
