Bacolod City plans onsite housing project in fire-hit area

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY — The city government is considering the development of Purok Kagaykay in Barangay 2, which was struck by a fire last month, displacing 82 families.

Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez met with the fire victims and assessed their situation on Monday.

In a media interview, Benitez said that he had discussed the status of the land with the barangay captain, particularly the area where 81 houses were damaged in the July 31 fire.

“The city is studying the best use of the area,” he said.

Fire Superintendent Jenny Mae Masip, the city fire marshal, joined Benitez during the inspection.

Benitez noted that if the area is neglected, it will likely revert to its previous state, where three fires have already occurred.

The mayor emphasized the need for solutions to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

“The city will intervene by putting up proper structures that conform to building standards and fire safety measures,” he said.

The affected area is about 2,000 square meters. Initially, the land was identified as government-owned, but this is subject to validation to ensure its legal status.

Some residents have expressed interest in relocating, but Benitez stressed that if the city does not act now, allowing people to return and rebuild without proper planning could lead to the same scenario.

“The idea is to either develop the land for city use or to make proper developments and give it to the affected households,” Benitez said.

The city is seeking a better and more permanent solution to protect residents.

The City Engineering Office (CEO), Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA), and the barangay will lead the housing project, Benitez added.

He also said that they aim to make the onsite housing project in Purok Kagaykay a model for other fire-prone areas in the city.

Currently, there are 280 identified fire-prone areas, or red zones, in Bacolod City, with the number expected to rise as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod continues its assessment.

Last Monday, Benitez signed an executive order creating a task force to identify, assess, and map fire-prone areas to protect residents and property.

“Part of the executive order is to identify land ownership in the red zones to determine the appropriate response,” he said.

Benitez also met with the barangay captain of Barangay 16, where a fire in Purok Kingfisher on August 1 damaged 15 houses and claimed the life of the purok president.

He asked the barangay official if some residents could give up their houses to allow the city to build better passageways and safety facilities in case of emergency.

Residents whose homes were destroyed received P15,000 in cash aid from the city government, while those with partially damaged homes received P10,000.

Affected sharers or renters received P5,000. The cash aid distribution in two villages was led by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) last Sunday.