BACOLOD City – This city received an 87-percent rating from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for its road-clearing drive, heeding President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to reclaim roads that are being used for private ends.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia disclosed this after the two-day inspection of DILG Region 6’s validation team.
“We thank our barangay captains and officials who worked so hard with DILG, police officers and City officials and others to achieve this daunting task. We also appeal to those affected for their understanding and cooperation to comply with the President’s directive to clear roads and alleys from obstruction,” the mayor said.
The validation team was composed of DILG-6 director Engr. Ariel Iglesia, DILG- Iloilo City director Roy Defiño, Senior Fire officer 2 Frankie Guillen, chief of operations of the Bureau of Fire Protection—Bacolod City Fire Station, Lieutenant Gary Buaron, deputy chief of Operation Section of the Bacolod City Police Office, and Crispin Chua, director of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
On Tuesday, a day before the validation began, Leonardia said that based on the reports of barangay captains, a total of 11,099 of 11,799 illegal structures in Bacolod have been demolished. Some of those not removed have legal issues.
“The removal of 11,099 structures is not a joke, so we have to give credit to our barangay officials for having done these. Although it’s not perfect, it’s almost perfect,” he said. (With Bacolod City PIO/PN)
