By Paulo Loreto Lim

Acting Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III signed an executive order yesterday ordering the removal of illegal structures, which includes kiosks selling ‘ukay-ukay,’ or second-hand clothing retailers, from the city’s Jaro Plaza.
The order cited violations to RA 4653, which prohibits the commercial importation of textile articles; and RA 7832, the Anti-electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.
According to the mayor, following a recent inspection of the area, it was revealed there were unauthorized electrical connections made to the city government line.
Espinosa noted, the original permit sought the space for a garden show, however, the said inspection showed no such event was taking place.
The city’s Task Force Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures (ASIS), led by Robert Dumanil, was tasked with removing all illegal structures from the plaza.
Back in August, the Bacolod City Legal Enforcement Unit (CLEU) removed vendors occupying several areas of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) and the Bacolod Public Plaza.
According to CLEU head Dante Mendecielo, around 30 vendors were vacated from the Bacolod Public Plaza, along with an agreement with the General Services Office (GSO) to guard the area in order to block the return of the vendors./WDJ