Bacolod officials vows hand-off on money for relocation site
BACOLOD CITY – All the city officials have assured that not a single centavo will go to their pockets once the application for the P150 million loan is granted to the city government.
This was said by Mayor Evelio Leonardia amidst the issues hounding the proposed loan which is intended for the purchase of land to be developed into a resettlement area for the squatters. However this loan was not able to get the approval of the Philippine National Bank for some alleged compelling reasons.
However, Leonardia said that this will not stop him from pursuing plans for the squatters of Bacolod City. He said that they are trying their best to address these major concerns of the city which is the squatters but there are those who regularly sabotage their plans which are beneficial to Bacolodnons.
He said that they are very certain that this money will not benefit any single city official as what his political detractors are trying to picture out.
There were squatters who requested the assistance of Mayor Leonardia which were backed by the groups of Kaisahan and Kadamay.
Marlene Frais, a squatter, said that their house has been demolished three times and there is always a serious impact to them psychologically and emotionally.
She said that they hope that the city will also provide livelihood assistance to those who are victims of dislocation.
Leonardia said that if only there are no saboteurs lurking around the city, he could have divulged their plans for the squatters. However, it has always been their experience that every time they have good plans, the saboteurs are also out to destroy it by all means.
“We are trying our best to address the problem. But then, there are also people around who also try their best to destroy any of our plans from getting implemented,” he said.
Mr. Ramon Viva, spokesman of Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Monico O. Puentevella, said that if protecting the interest of the people is sabotage to the Leonardia administration, then let it be.
Viva said the major projects of the Congressman were also blocked such as the two flyovers that would be a big help to the traffic problem in the city and the proposed Heart Center.
