• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The haze observed across several parts of Bacolod City last Thursday evening has officially been attributed to the burning of cleared typhoon debris, not an actual fire incident.
The Bureau of Fire Protection confirmed that the smoke was most likely caused by residents burning trees and branches that were cleared following the passage of Typhoon Tino.
Mayor Greg Gasataya issued an urgent appeal to the public to avoid the practice, stressing that it poses significant health and safety risks to the community and is also prohibited by law.
As the city government continues its extensive road clearing and cleanup operations, the Mayor encouraged residents to instead pile up the cleared debris so garbage collectors can pick them up quickly.
Based on the latest reports from the Emergency Operations Center, the team already cleared 67 out of 274 reported fallen trees around Bacolod.
Gasataya stressed that collective cooperation is essential for the city’s recovery.*
