Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya and City Engineer’s Office (CEO) personnel led the demolition of an illegal structure at Artemis Salt Corporation’s storage facility in Barangay Banago July 30, following a drainage inspection and declogging operation.
The demolition followed a 72-hour abatement and removal order issued July 26 by City Legal Officer, Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu, per Gasataya’s directive. The order stemmed from a prior inspection which revealed that the structure contributed to the flooding incident early this month in Sta. Clara Subdivision and surrounding areas.
Artemis Salt Corporation’s failure to comply with the order resulted in the demolition, the city said in a press release, adding the company had partially obstructed the drainage system with a wall intended to prevent seawater intrusion.
The wall was constructed without a fencing permit, the city said.
“We need to remove the portion of the wall to clear the drainage system and prevent clogging, especially during the rainy season,” Gasataya said.
The mayor also instructed the CEO to restore full drainage flow after noting several clogged drainage lines outside the facility.
Engr. Loben Ceballos, CEO officer-in-charge, said that clearing and declogging operations will continue. “We need to remove the debris to help ease flooding in nearby communities.”
The Office of the Building Official, meanwhile, issued a Notice of Suspension on the construction of the salt storage facility.
While the company has a building permit, OBO head, Engr. Amy Tentia, said that violations of Presidential Decree 1096, or the National Building Code of the Philippines, were also discovered.
These include errors in the submitted plans and specifications, specifically on required easements, and inaccurate data provided by the company.
Artemis has three days to respond to the notice, or face legal repercussions, the city added. ||
