The Bacolod City government has removed families, including minors, from an abandoned building along 4th-Lacson Street and assured them of assistance.
The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) is now providing interventions for the minors and monitoring those who are not residents of Bacolod, City Administrator Mark Mayo said on Monday Sept. 1.
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The abandoned building had served as temporary shelter for several families, including children, and was closed off due to safety concerns and possible illegal activities.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the building’s management has also deployed security personnel to guard the premises.
He personally thanked the owner of the building for cooperating with the city and ensuring 24/7 security at the site, the mayor said.
Mayo reported that eight minors are now under DSSD custody, while adults were given the discretion to decide where to go after being removed from the building.
“Most of them were from outside Bacolod, like Kabankalan and Sagay City, and the DSSD is taking appropriate action and monitoring,” Mayo said.
He added that some individuals expressed interest in staying in other areas of Bacolod, but they are being monitored to prevent further encampments.*