• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Twenty illegal structures and obstructions were cleared along Palanca Road July 3 during a joint enforcement operation covering portions of barangays 14 and 16 in Bacolod City.
The clearing and demolition operation was spearheaded by the City Legal Office Enforcement Team, and the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Retired police colonel Levy Pangue, team leader of the enforcement team, said they targeted structures encroaching on sidewalks.
“We previously reduced the numbers here, but they recently multiplied again. Sidewalks must remain free of structures, which is why we are finalizing the clearing with the barangay,” Pangue said.
He noted that one of the structures belonged to an individual, who had returned to Sagay City. Because the structure was unoccupied but filled with belongings, authorities arranged to inventory and turn over the items to the barangay for safekeeping.
The CLO said many of the structure owners had been defying eviction notices for over a year, often with personal excuses to delay their departure, and returning later.
“Some of these structures have been here for a very long time. They have been given notices at least four times since last year,” Pangue added.
The cleared structures included a car wash, three vulcanizing shops, a coffee shop, and actual houses with fully functioning residential kitchen extensions.
Pangue urged barangay leaders to serve as primary caretakers of their jurisdiction and to stop tolerating illegal setups. | TMD
