DILG encourages public to send photos of illegal structures
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

With the deadline for road clearing operations on Friday, the Bacolod City Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said they will be conducting random inspections. DILG-Bacolod Director Ma. Joy Marideth Madayag said validating teams will check if the submitted documentation are correct and compliant with the DILG memorandum circular.
Madayag said barangay and city officials must take the clearing operations seriously as the DILG regional office will be closely monitoring highly-urbanized cities first. She also encouraged the public to send pictures of illegal structures and other road obstructions to their official social media page.
Earlier, the Bacolod City government reported at least 14 of the city’s 61 barangays are currently in compliance with the DILG order requiring roads to be free of obstructions. City government data identified the compliant neighborhoods as Barangays 8, 9, 10, 18, 22, 23, 24, 31, 37, Felisa, Mandalagan, Montevista, Villamonte, and Vista Alegre.
Executive Assistant Butch Soliguen, who heads the barangay cluster, said the 14 compliant communities did not have as much to clear as other barangays.
Meanwhile, last week, Bacolod City legal officer, Atty. Joselito Bayatan, said 16 city barangays submitted their accomplishments with regards to the ongoing clearing operations.
In addition, Mayor Evelio Leonardia insisted the city’s compliance is 80 percent.
Last month, the mayor touted the ongoing road-clearing process and stated: “We’ve seen significant progress.”/DGB, WDJ