Residents of Barangay Banago, Bacolod City , yesterday asked the city government to extend the 10-day notice to vacate issued them until a relocation site is available.

They also said the demolition of their structures is not the solution to the flooding problem in the city.

The City Legal Office issued notices to vacate Tuesday to 34 families in Puroks Nami-Nami and Himulaton in Banago whose structures impede the dredging activity being conducted by the city in the Banago Creek to address the flood problem.

City Legal Officer Allan Zamora said the residents had also been notified of this by the Department of Public Works and Highways on January 15 and March 1 and 2.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said "We did what was legal so we will pursue it." He said that, because of the situation, there is an urgency to clear the waterways as one cannot tell when the next typhoon will occur, since the weather is unpredictable.

"I am asking for their understanding and cooperation," Leonardia said.

He said the city will extend support to the affected families to help them in the hauling of their materials, as well as, provide P3,000 financial assistance to those who do not have relocation sites.

Leonardia said the affected families have three options: to be relocated to the Vista Alegre-Granada (Abada-Escay) relocation site, the Kimara area, or the shoreline in Purok Himulaton.

He said the city could reclaim the shoreline after it has resumed its dredging activity in Banago using the equipment of Sipalay City .

Executive Assistant to the Mayor Joemarie Vargas, said they may be able to resume the dredging operations in the first week of December and he estimates that the work will be completed in three to four months.

Councilor Roberto Rojas told the residents that the Kimara group is willing to accommodate them.

The affected residents asked for the extension because they said the two areas being offered them in Purok Himulaton are not yet prepared while they still have to comply with some requirements to avail of the Vista Alegre-Granada relocation site.

During a “privilege speech” before the Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday, Gerondio Arances, a representative of Purok Himulaton, said they prefer to stay within the "danger zone" than be left homeless.

Arances said they have received the notices of the DPWH but no consultation or survey was ever made. He also claimed that they were not officially served the demolition notice by the city.

Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairman of the Committee on Housing, Urban Poor and Resettlement, said he had conducted a meeting and consultation in Purok Himulaton. He said the SP also appropriated P300,000 for the survey but its implementation was delayed because of the election ban.

Marde Calo-oy, manager of the Shelter for Homeless Development said the residents could avail of a lot in Kimara through the Community Mortgage Program. She said that, through the CMP, they could avail of a loan of P80,000 payable in 24 years.

The affected residents are planning to hold a dialog today to weigh the options being offered them by the city.

They insisted that they are not the cause of the flood problem in the northern potion of the city but that there are creeks and waterways that have been closed or diverted as a result of the construction of establishments and subdivisions in the area.*CGS

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