BACOLOD City – The city government here has created a Task Force on Road Clearing following the issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 015, series of 2025, signed by Mayor Greg Gasataya.
The executive order mandates the removal of obstructions on streets and roads across the city and outlines measures for the effective implementation of the road-clearing program.
The task force is chaired by Mayor Gasataya or his duly authorized representative. Its members include City Legal Officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu; Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos, head of the City Engineer’s Office (CEO); Atty. Reuben Mikhail Sabig, head of the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD); and Colonel Joeresty Coronica, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) or his representative.
Other members are Christian Nagaynay, director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), or his representative; a representative from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – City District Engineering Office; and Executive Assistant Levy Pangue who was designated as the task force’s focal person.
Mayor Gasataya said the task force is tasked with enforcement, monitoring barangay compliance, and recommending legal or disciplinary actions against non-complying local officials.
Under the EO, the City Legal Office, CEO, and BTTMD are directed to jointly oversee the removal of road obstructions and submit monthly accomplishment reports to the offices of the mayor and vice mayor until all identified obstructions are cleared.
All punong barangays are mandated to actively participate in clearing operations within their respective jurisdictions. In line with Section 389(b)(1) of Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991), it is their duty to enforce laws and ordinances in their areas.
Sections 16 and 389(b)(1) of the same law empower local government officials to regulate the use of public spaces and ensure roads remain safe and accessible to the public.
Failure or refusal to act will be considered neglect of duty under Section 60(c) of the Local Government Code and may lead to administrative sanctions as provided by law.
Additionally, City Ordinance No. 09-17-8140, series of 2017, classifies all illegal structures on public roads as nuisance per se and mandates the CLO, CEO, and BTTMD to jointly conduct clearing operations and submit regular reports to the city government.
The DILG, through Memorandum Circulars No. 2020-027 and No. 2023-145, has also instructed all local government units to continuously implement road-clearing initiatives, warning that non-compliance could result in administrative sanctions for gross neglect of duty.
Mayor Gasataya emphasized that road obstructions — such as illegal structures, street vending encroachments, unauthorized parked vehicles, and other violations of public space — pose serious hazards to public safety and must be addressed decisively./PN
