• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod is requesting the City Legal Office, through the City Mayor, to monitor the prevalent construction of structures on government sidewalks, especially along the Economic Highway, and to implement measures to remove and/or prevent the same.
Authored by Councilor Dindo Ramos, the resolution said sidewalks are public properties intended for pedestrian use and are essential for ensuring public safety, accessibility, and smooth flow of foot traffic.
There is a growing prevalence of unauthorized structures being constructed on government-owned sidewalks, particularly along the Economic Highway in Bacolod City, the resolution said.
These obstructions not only hinder the free passage of pedestrians but also pose hazards to public safety and violate existing laws and ordinances on the proper use of public spaces, it said.
The resolution mandates the city government, through the City Legal Office and in coordination with relevant departments, to enforce laws and ordinances to protect public properties from illegal encroachments.
It also requests the CLO through the mayor, to implement appropriate measures for the immediate removal of such obstructions and to strictly enforce policies to prevent similar violations in the future.*
