By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Residents of Barangay 8 here still have an access road contrary to their claims that the passageway was closed due to a fencing project of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) in the area.
This was the explanation of Senior Supt. Jerry Candido, BFP-6 regional director, in a letter addressed to Task Force Kasanag founder and national commander John Chiong.
Residents of Purok Fire at Barangay 8 asked the help of the TFK on their complaint against the alleged closure of their main passageway after a perimeter fence was built by the local BFP station.
Chiong said that 25 to 28 affected families requested his assistance to air their concern to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the national BFP office.
The affected residents claimed that the local BFP constructed the perimeter fence without prior notice.
Candido said the fencing of the Bacolod Fire station is the project of the office of the regional director.
He further said that the office of the City Fire Marshall was just tasked to monitor the implementation of the project.
As the project is under contract, the winning bidder finished the project as prescribed which includes the closure of the access of which became the basis of the complaint from the residents of Barangay 8, he added.
“It is not true however that the residents of Barangay 8 were deprived of the ‘right of way’ as described in the complaint,” Candido said.
He also said that upon verification, it has been found that the residents still have road access about 30 meters away from their residences.