THE CITY of Bacolod is scheduled to remove the informal settlers living under the bridge along San Antonio Abad Parish Church in Barangay Taculing.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia already discussed the issue with Undersecretary Noel Felongco, chairman of the Presidential Commission for Urban Poor (PCUP), who was in Bacolod City yesterday, May 23.
Leonardia said the city has a plan to widen the bridge, both sides, so they need to address the informal settlers in the area.
"We have already the budget and contract, but the construction has been stopped because the informal settlers are still there," he said.
He added about 39 informal settler families will be affected by the city's project.
Leonardia noted that in terms of the removal of the informal settlers, they will go through the process and they need the assistance of the PCUP.
"We cannot just simply demolish or eject them, there has to be a clearance from PCUP that is why we are happy that they are here to fast track the clearance," the mayor said.
Felongco said the informal setter families at San Antonio Abad are living in the danger zone area so they need to be relocated to the safe area.
"As of now, their area is considered as a dangerous area. Let us remember the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that no genuine consultation and relocation of the informal settlers, no demolition or eviction. That is the marching order from the president," he said.
He added he believes that Leonardia is also complying with that order and that is the mandate of the PCUP.
The PCUP-Visayas will conduct a census to determine whether these people are underprivileged and homeless so they can avail the relocation.
Felongco said the PCUP-Visayas will conduct the pre-demolition conference that will be submitted to the national office so they can issue a certificate of availability of relocation or financial assistance to the affected families.
"It is the mandate of the PCUP to help the City Government of Bacolod to remove the informal settlers and it is for the common good of the city," he said.
Neil Victor Saril, PCUP assistant chief of operations-Visayas, said they have an ongoing pre-demolition conference in various areas of Bacolod.
He said the informal settler families will be demolished if there's a government project ongoing, they are occupying danger zone and if there is a court order.
"The informal settlers living under the bridge along San Antonio Abad Parish Church are occupying the danger zone and there's an on-going project so they have to go to continue the city's project," he added.
Saril also urged the barangay officials to monitor their areas of jurisdiction to identify the professional informal settlers within their barangay.
