Local News: Pta. Taytay Residents Are to Face Ejection
Fifty-three houses had been ordered to vacate a private lot in Purok Masinulundon, Barangay Punta-Taytay in Bacolod City but residents insist that they stay and fight against homelessness and economic dislocation if transferred to the City’s relocation site.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros Secretary General Christian Tuayon says that in the Urban Development Housing Act, residents should at least be given 60 days after a writ of demolition has been issued by the courts.
Tuayon also stressed that the local government unit has a major role in the placement of people to avail housing units which are affordable and where jobs can be made available to them.
The Bacolod City Government still has to take action on the plight of people under siege of massive ejection and demolition orders in the City nowadays.
Residents in the area are demanding for an onsite development or a relocation site adjacent to the area, so as not to be economically displaced. An ongoing vigil and picket-line was established by the affected residents in the area and are calling for the attention of Local Government Units to intervene on the situation.
On February 10, 2012, residents were able to meet with Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson on their problem, but were told that the City has an existing relocation site and has been rehabilitated from a loan of P250 million with only P18 million left since funds had been allocated for rehabilitation at the Abada Escay and Arao properties.
Tuayon also pointed out that the City had spent money on the said development on the relocation sites,but residents wonder why roads are not in place. Some of the areas have no electricity until now.*
