Mayor affirms legal compliance in Moises Padilla Demolition

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Ella Celestina D. Garcia Yulo of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental has confirmed that the demolition of structures on a government-owned property, which affected around six families and a church, was lawfully executed.

The site at Barangay Guinpanaan is designated for the new Super Health Center.

Yulo addressed the matter with the media on Thursday, saying that out of the six families, only one has continued to oppose the government project as they were claiming to be “victims.”

She emphasized that the local government meticulously adhered to all necessary procedures during the demolition and consulted legal experts to avert potential legal issues post-demolition.

Despite dissenting voices on social media, Yulo clarified that the local government holds the title to the 8-hectare parcel, of which 2,000 square meters are allocated for the health facility currently usurped by squatters.

Prior to the demolition, Yulo’s administration engaged with the families involved; to her surprise, no objections were raised until the resistance from the aforementioned family occurred.

The families affected by the demolition received P20,000 in cash assistance and were offered relocation sites in close proximity to the development.

The mayor explained the chosen location’s strategic advantage, serving five outlying barangays and standing to benefit thousands from Barangay Guinpanaan and its neighboring areas.

Additionally, she highlighted the Department of Health’s guidelines, which stipulate that health facilities should not be constructed near municipal health offices, justifying the search for an appropriate site post-budget allocation from the LGU’s funds.

The Super Health Center, a flagship project supported by Senator Bong Go with a P10 million budget, is expected to provide local employment during its construction and stimulate economic activity upon completion, ensuring a critical healthcare resource for emergencies, according to Yulo.

Fr. Felizardo Lamazan, head of the Aglipayan church affected by the demolition, expressed respect for the local government’s decision. Acknowledging the lack of legal documentation for their church property, Lamazan agreed that the cause justifies the move and confirmed the church’s relocation plans.