The Bacolod City government has given Artemis Salt Corporation 72 hours to remove an illegal structure obstructing a drainage outfall at its facility in Barangay Banago.
The order was issued after an ocular inspection July 26 by the City Legal Office (CLO) Enforcement Team and the City Engineer’s Office, with city officials believing that removal of the structure “will significantly alleviate flooding in low-lying areas by allowing floodwaters to flow directly to the sea”.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the structure contributed to flooding in Sta. Clara Subdivision and nearby areas, and directed the CLO, headed by Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu, to issue the abatement and removal order.
Chiu said that “failure to comply within 72 hours will result in legal action”, adding that a compliance conference will be held at 2 p.m. today at the CLO on the matter.
“We ordered the management to voluntarily demolish the illegal structure within 72 hours, or else legal action will be pursued for non-compliance,” Chiu stressed in a statement.
He said the demolition will be a significant step in addressing the persistent flood problems affecting nearby communities.
Artemis Salt Corp., represented by Engineer Marcelo Cobrador, has committed to comply with the order, the city said in a press release.
Cobrador had explained that the structure, approximately one meter long and 0.06-meter tall, was intended as a makeshift floodwall to prevent seawater intrusion during high tide, adding it was meant to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels on both the facility and surrounding communities. “It was a win-win solution to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels that could potentially damage both the facility and the surrounding communities.” ||
