An ordinance establishing a comprehensive, sustainable development program for shelter services and poverty alleviation of informal settlers in Bacolod City, was passed on third and final reading Friday by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The ordinance was authored by Councilor El Cid Familiaran and co-authored by Councilors Dindo Ramos, Archie Baribar Caesar Distrito, Em Legaspi-Ang, Roberto Rojas and Mona Dia Jardin.

The ordinance said there is a need for the city to come up with a comprehensive sustainable development program for shelter services and poverty alleviation to respond and protect the basic rights of poor and homeless citizens and informal settlers against eviction and demolition, as well as theirtransfer to relocation sites.

The ordinance provides that privately owned property or land utilized asoff-siteor relocation site for informal settlers should be provided with basic services, among others.

The ordinance also provides that an appropriate housing program will be undertaken by the city, to provide land tenure security to marginalized fisherfolk families living along 14 coastal barangays in Bacolod pursuant to R.A. 7160, or theLocal Government Code of 1991and Republic Act 8550 or thePhilippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

It also provides for the creation of the BacolodUrban Poor Council for the effective representation of poor and informal settlers, which will be composed of a representative each from the different urban poor groups and federation of marginalized fisherfolks, the Urban Poor Desk of the Social Action Center, and non-government organizations working with urban poor associations.

The ordinance also provides for the creation of theBacolodLocal Housing Board to monitor all eviction and demolition, whether voluntary, extra-judicial, summary, or court-ordered, and to require proponent of an eviction and demolition compliance certificate.

The City Mayor is mandated to convene theBacolodLocal Housing Board within 30 days from the effectivity of the ordinance, it said.*CGS

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