Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the demolition of 22 houses behind the Manokan Country in Barangay 12, Bacolod City, will be held off.
The city has a policy that there will be no demolition of houses of informal settlers during the holidays, he said.
“I don’t allow demolition during November and December…that has been a standing policy ever since,” Benitez said.
“I think they have all voluntarily agreed to leave the area by January”, he said.
The mayor said the affected families received financial assistance last month.
The area where the illegal structures are located is part of the 3-hectare property of the Bacolod City government that was leased to SM Prime Holdings Inc. that is set develop the area and build a new Manokan Country.*