• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Structures obstructing the GK floodway in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, were dismantled July 28, to clear the path for the desilting operations of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
City Legal Office (CLO) Enforcement team leader Levy Pangue said the dismantling of the six structures, mostly makeshift shanties and house extensions, was prioritized because they directly blocked the entryway needed for DPWH heavy equipment to access the riverbed.
“The DPWH will excavate and widen the river. The structures cleared included residential portions and vendors located right along the drop-off path for heavy machinery,” Pangue said.
The initial clearing is part of a broader flood-control effort targeting over 40 structures built along the riverbank in the area.
Pangue said official notices have been served to affected residents and shop owners following earlier coordination meetings with city officials.
The remaining owners have been instructed to clear their property as soon as official notices are issued.
Aside from dismantling the structures, the city also issued 24-hour notices to long-abandoned vehicles parked in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the City Engineer’s Office cleared roughly 500 tons of silt from the Cabalagnan Creek during a three-day operation.
The clearing aims to prevent the recurring overflow that frequently inundates barangays Tangub and Pahanocoy, and neighboring subdivisions. | TMD
