Relocation for Pulupandan evictees underway

BY DANNY B. DANGCALAN

BACOLOD City — Governor Isidro Zayco said the 32 families in Pulupandan town who were evicted recently will soon be relocated to Brgy. Sum-ag.

He disclosed that the provincial government is planning to acquire eight lots at 100 squares meter each, or a total of 800 square meters costing P400,000. He said this will enable each family to occupy 25 square meters.

Zayco said 4th District Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer will shoulder half of the cost of the lots while the remaining P200,000 will be paid for by the 32 families.

However, he said each family will be subject to validation whether they are qualified to avail of the lots.

On March 5, the evictees met with Zayco at the Provincial Capitol and asked him to provide them with relocation outside Pulupandan since they are being harassed there.

The evicted residents were accompanied by Fr. Anecito Buenafe of the Bacolod Diocese Social Action Center and Fr. Regener Dequiña, parish priest of Guimbalaon in Silay City.

Zayco said he called Mayor Evelio Leonardia who agreed to temporarily house the evicted residents at the Balay Pasilungan beside the Bacolod BAYS Center.

The evicted families had been staying at the Bishop’s Palace last week after conducting an eight-hour stations of the cross from Pulupandan the other week.

They marched to Bacolod City after former Mayor Luis Mondia Jr. was murdered and they were evicted from their homes on a property owned by a relative of Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña./PN