Moises Padilla mayor seeks help as college land reclaimed

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo has sought the intervention of Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson after the owner of the property occupied by a state college moved to reclaim the land.

Thousands of students at the Central Philippines State University (CPSU) Moises Padilla campus are at risk of displacement after former town mayor Frank Nazareno, the landowner, asked to retake possession of the property.

Yulo made the appeal during a courtesy call on Gov. Lacson and Vice Gov. Jose Benito Alonso on Wednesday.

She said she is asking for the governor’s assistance to resolve the issue.

The mayor explained that the deed of usufruct between CPSU and Nazareno expired in 2017.

She said the agreement was valid for only 10 years.

Yulo added that Nazareno has long been requesting payment from the school, prompting campus administrator Dr. Rosemie Gequillana to seek help from the municipal government.

Yulo, along with all town officials, visited the governor to ask for provincial support, stressing that CPSU is the only college in the municipality.

She said thousands of students from Moises Padilla and neighboring towns, enrolled in courses such as Bachelor of Science in Education, Agribusiness, and Information Technology, will be affected if the issue is not resolved.

The governor has committed to help, Yulo said.

One option under consideration is for the provincial government to purchase the land where the school campus is located.

Yulo also asked for assistance in acquiring the property that hosts the town’s water source.

The land is located in the neighboring town of La Castellana.