By CESAR JOLITO III

The Bacolod City government has stepped up efforts to ensure road safety and support infrastructure development following the issuance of clearing notices to residents in Barangays 1 and 2 whose structures encroach on public roads and sidewalks.

On February 3, the City Legal Striker Team carried out a peaceful notice-issuance operation targeting illegal shanties and obstructions that hinder ongoing road-widening projects and compromise pedestrian and motorist safety.

The operation was conducted under the City Legal Office, in line with the city administration’s mandate to restore order in public spaces.

The team coordinated closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with security assistance from the Bacolod City Police Office to ensure an orderly and incident-free operation.

City records show that 20 residents were issued formal notices — 15 from Barangay 2 and five from Barangay 1.

The affected structures were built along DPWH road-widening areas, gutter lines and sidewalks, some of which had already been cleared in previous operations.

Authorities noted that despite earlier voluntary compliance, several structures were reconstructed in the same high-risk locations.

The City Legal Office emphasized that the clearing initiative is guided by Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2024-053, which grants residents a 10-day period to voluntarily dismantle their structures before further legal steps are taken.

Officials reiterated that the primary goal of the operation is to safeguard public safety while ensuring full compliance with the law and due process.

The city government reported that residents cooperated during the activity and no untoward incidents occurred.

The administration said the operation forms part of its broader program to promote urban discipline, improve traffic flow and support infrastructure projects vital to Bacolod’s growth./CJ, WDJ