Bacolod City — Five regular employees of the Office of the Building Official (OBO) have been asked to explain their role in the issuance of a fencing permit to a private firm in 2024.
Mayor Greg Gasataya announced during a press conference on December 1 that the city will serve the show-cause orders to the employees, including a former OBO head, asking them to submit their written explanation within five days of receipt. The city seeks to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted regarding the permit issued for a property in Barangay Villamonte.
The move comes in connection with the Cease and Desist Order (CDO) issued by the mayor on November 28 against the construction of a concrete riprap structure along Sulom Creek in Barangay Villamonte. The order is part of the city’s intensified campaign to clear waterways and protect the environment.
The CDO followed an inspection of the property’s perimeter fence conducted on November 21, 2025, by Mayor Gasataya, City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu, OIC City Engineer Engr. Loben Ceballos, OBO OIC Engineer Amy Tentia, and the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO).
“When we inspected the area, we noticed that the land was very loose and prone to landslides, especially with residents living below the site. We do not want any casualties, which is why urgent action is necessary,” Chiu said, citing multiple violations related to the ongoing construction./PN
