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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Gasataya seeks gov't help to settle ownership of fire-hit property

Gasataya seeks gov't help to settle ownership of fire-hit property

Published Sep 16, 2025 09:23 pm
MAYOR Greg Gasataya, along with Councilor Em Ang, visits fire victims in Barangay 27, Bacolod City. (Photo via Councilor Em Ang)
MAYOR Greg Gasataya, along with Councilor Em Ang, visits fire victims in Barangay 27, Bacolod City. (Photo via Councilor Em Ang)
BACOLOD CITY – Following a devastating fire that left nearly 1,000 residents homeless in Barangay 27 in this highly-urbanized city, Mayor Greg Gasataya is asking the national government for assistance in resolving the property’s ownership status.
In a press briefing on Monday, Sept. 15, Gasataya said the 7,787-square-meter lot affected by the fire was previously managed by the Philippine Alien Property Administration in the 1950s.
Records show that it was under the Department of Justice (DOJ) but linked to the United States.
The agency has since been abolished and the land title now reflects ownership by the Republic of the Philippines.
“This means that the land is owned by the national government,” the mayor said.
Gasataya emphasized the need for guidance on which agency the city should coordinate with regarding the property’s future, especially as displaced residents are currently barred from returning to the area for safety reasons.
“This isn’t to keep them out permanently, but to protect them from fire hazards while we evaluate the situation,” he said.
The mayor said discussions with barangay officials and affected families are ongoing, with the city aiming to have the national government donate the land to this city.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that this property which is owned by the government will be donated to the city of Bacolod,” he added.
If approved, residents could be granted legal ownership through the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA), transitioning them from informal settlers to legal homeowners.
Currently, 289 families or 993 individuals are taking temporary shelter in classrooms at Mabini Elementary School, where classes have shifted to modular learning.
Fire victims will receive financial assistance from the city government – P15,000 for totally damaged homes, P10,000 for partially damaged homes, and P5,000 for renters or sharers.
The blaze, which occurred shortly after midnight on Sept. 12, caused an estimated P4.5 million in damage.
City Fire Marshal Supt. Jenny Mae Masip reported that the fire originated from a couple’s rented home due to an electrical arc.
The couple surfaced before authorities two days after the incident.

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