Several informal settlers in Bacolod City, living in areas that identified as danger zones, sought the help of the city officials during the regular session of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the affected families have requested for financial aid, scholarships, training or livelihood assistance, since most of them are poor and will be displaced if relocated.

The Bacolod City Legal Office had served notices to vacate to 354 informal settlers whose structures are located in danger zones in Bacolod City, following the latest tragedy that hit the country.

Most of these structures are found near rivers and creeks within the downtown area of Bacolod.

Sayson said they requested the affected families to submit specific information like, how many families will be affected and what are their specific needs.

He said the case of the affected families of Purok Makawiwili in Brgy. Banago who are facing ejection, has been referred to Councilor Dindo Ramos who is chairman of the SP Committee on Urban Poor, Housing and Resettlement. Ramos will conduct a public hearing on the matter, he added.

Sayson said the President has issued an order that danger zones should not be inhabited, so the city has to implement it.

He said the informal settlers should apply for a relocation site first before they can be relocated, he said.

Sayson said they have identified more than 500 illegal structures in the city but the demolition should be done in stages.

Structures that impede the flow of the drainage system that may cause flooding will be the first to be removed, he said.

Earlier, City Legal Office-Composite Enforcement Unit head Cesar Beloria said they had sent notices to informal settlers living near rivers and creeks in Bacolod identified as danger zones, and reminded them to process their documents with the Bacolod Housing Authority for a relocation site since 2011 yet.

This is a reiteration of the previous notices, he said.

Beloria said the areas they have identified as danger zones are Barangays Banago, 1, 9, 10, 11, 12. The biggest area covers Baranagy 10 up to 12.

The illegal structures surveyed by the Bacolod Housing Authority are located in Mambuloc Creek in Barangays 8 and 9, and Maupay Creek in Brgy. 14. Others are in Purok Lampirong, Brgy. 2, Purok Saylan, Brgy 4

Beloria said the concerned informal settlers should process their papers for relocation site now, because, if worse comes to worst, they might implement forced evacuation and provide them temporary shelters.*CGS

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