By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) head Frank Carbon lauded the efforts of government officials in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental for the recent clearing operations along major thoroughfares and sidewalks, which were initiated by an order from President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Carbon, the chamber has been asking for it for a long time.
He pointed out how some market stalls would only have a limited number of customers due to inaccessibility and, in other instances, stall owners in the downtown area would become aggressive with passersby if they accidentally bump into their stalls.
Carbon said establishment owners could likely see an improvement in sales by 20 to 30 percent because the public will now be able to see their displays more clearly.
Last week, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia touted the ongoing road-clearing process, stating, “We’ve seen significant progress.”
Operations were prompted after Duterte, in his most recent State of the Nation Address, called on “all concerned local officials” to “undertake immediate action to ensure the speedy and smooth flow of vehicular traffic.”
In a press release last month, the city government highlighted a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum circular that indicated, “Within 60 calendar days, significant results must be achieved, documented, and reported.”
Leonardia said the follow-up meeting is being held as a means of ensuring all auditing and reporting is complete and accurate.
“We want to ensure a comprehensive compliance for our report to the DILG and Malacañang Palace,” he affirmed./DGB, WDJ