Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya denied having said that the Brgy 27 fire victims will not be allowed to return to the property where they used to live.
At a press conference on Monday, September 15, Gasataya said the misinformation is only adding to the stress and trauma of the residents who lost their homes.
“Let us not add to the stress of these people, it won’t do any good,” he said.
Gasataya said the city government discovered that the 7,787-square meter property where the fire occurred was owned by the Philippine Alien Property Administration, a former government office that was terminated in 1951.
The Bacolod City government is coordinating with relevant national government agencies to have the property donated to the city, he said.
If successful, the land can be used by the affected residents, allowing them to rebuild and no longer be considered informal settlers, he said.
Gasataya stressed that proper roads and safety measures would also need to be implemented.
Meanwhile, residents will not be allowed to enter the property until proper validation is completed and the safety of the area is determined, he said.
Affected residents have the option to move to a designated relocation site, or return to the original property if it is donated to the city, he said.
The area where the fire took place had previously been tagged by the Bureau of Fire Protection as a “red zone” due to the lack of
roads and cramped houses, which made it fire prone.
The fire, which took place on Friday, September 12, left close to 1,000 residents homeless.
After proper validation the city will provide financial assistance to them, Gasataya said.
Gasataya expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming aid provided to the fire victims by the private sector.
The Department of Education has also allowed evacuees to stay at Mabini Elementary School for 15 days, he said.*