Squatter families who have been awarded lots at the Brgy. Vista Alegre-Granada relocation site in Bacolod City may lose the opportunity to own the property if they fail to put up their structures there within three months.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said a city policy requires the awardees to build their home at the relocation site within that time. Otherwise, it will be presumed that they do not need the lot so it will be awarded to others. In case the awardees are encountering some problems or difficulty in putting up their structures, the city has a committee that will assess their case, he also said.

About 13 awards have been cancelled by the Bacolod Housing Authority after the concerned families failed to put up structures at the relocation site after almost a year now.

Records of the BHA show that the city had awarded lots to 484 families as of Dec. 31, 2005. Meanwhile, Leonardia said former Miss International Aurora Pijuan is expected to arrive Saturday in Bacolod City with a group of Negrenses from Manila to launch the Gawad Kalinga Ilongga in the Brgy. Vista Alegre-Granada relocation site in Bacolod City.

The group has committed to build 50 houses in Brgys. Vista Alegre-Granada, and in the Hope Village in Talisay City.

Leonardia said Pijuan, who is a Negrense, is very active in Gawad Kalinga and he believes the people of Bacolod and Negros Occidental should take advantage of the project because so many key people involved in GK are from Bacolod.*CGS

back to top