Relocation site for teachers' building may not be given

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  – The 1,000-square meter lot in Barangay 39, Bacolod City that the Negros Occidental provincial government plans to donate to the Negros Occidental Teachers’ Federation (NOTF) as a relocation site for its building may not push through.

This after Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. got irked Monday over news that NOTF officials, led by its president, Portia Mallorca, said in media interviews that they were hurt over the manner by which they were told to vacate the area at Paglaum Sports Complex.

The provincial government had sent Notices of Eviction last March to all squatters at the sports complex. The notices were in the vernacular and stated that illegal squatters had only 15 days to vacate the place starting from the date of notice.

NOTF officials were reportedly hurt by the language used in the Notice of Eviction saying it should not be the way educators are treated.

But Marañon said the format of Notices of Eviction were generally addressed to the squatters, most of whom may have difficulty understanding English, that is why they relayed it in vernacular.

“That is for all squatters. It doesn’t mean we are insulting them. If they felt insulted, we didn’t mean to. But the fact remains that they have a violation. They are occupying an area illegally. They should get out from the sports complex,” Marañon said in vernacular.

Asked if the provincial government will still give the NOTF the relocation site, Marañon said, “Nothing’s final yet. It depends on the negotiation. If they want, they can look for their own relocation site.”

“If they want to see me, they should properly see me, and not talk about the issue elsewhere,” the governor added. “But the NOTF should vacate the building. It’s non-negotiable.”

Marañon said the area that the NOTF building occupies is a prime area, and many entities are interested in leasing it, including the Landbank of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Marañon said the area in Paglaum Sports Complex that will be vacated by squatters will be used for the construction of a three-storey commercial building. –(FREEMAN)