• THERESA MAE DULMAN
At least 47 informal structures in Barangay 35, Bacolod, will be demolished to make way for the rehabilitation and expansion of the City Veterinary Office (CVO) and the Animal Shelter Complex.
City Legal Office Enforcement Unit leader Levy Pangue confirmed that the structures were built within the city-owned property designated for the facility.
The project was originally scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026, but was delayed because residents have not yet cleared the area.
Pangue said construction will officially kick off next month.
He added that the city government held a coordinating conference with concerned offices and the Bacolod City Police to facilitate the clearing operations and provide assistance to the affected families.
Mayor Greg Gasataya previously outlined a two-phase approach for the city’s dog pound, beginning with immediate short-term fixes to address an unpaid electricity bill of approximately P800,000 from previous years, along with adding more cages and installing solar lights.
The medium-term plan involves a six-to-eight-month construction of the new veterinary office and animal shelter complex, worth P10 million, which will expand the capacity to accommodate up to 500 dogs. | TMD
