Mayor Greg Gasataya, along with personnel from the City Engineer’s Office, led the demolition of an illegal structure at Artemis Salt Corporation’s storage facility in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, July 30.
The demolition followed a 72-hour abatement and removal order issued Saturday, July 26, by City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu, acting on the mayor’s directive.
The order stemmed from a prior inspection revealing the structure was contributing to the flooding in Sta. Clara Subdivision and surrounding areas, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office (BCCO) said.
Artemis Salt Corporation’s failure to comply with the order resulted in the demolition.
The company had partially obstructed the drainage system with a wall intended to prevent seawater intrusion, a construction undertaken without the necessary fencing permit, the BCCO reported.
“We need to remove the portion of the wall to clear the drainage system and prevent clogging, especially during the rainy season,” Gasataya said.
He was accompanied by Councilor Homer Bais along with personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Further complicating matters, several clogged drainage lines outside the facility prompted Gasataya to instruct the City Engineer’s Office to investigate and restore full drainage flow.
Engineer Loben Ceballos, officer-in-charge of the City Engineer’s Office, confirmed that clearing and declogging operations would continue.
“We need to remove the debris to help ease flooding in nearby communities,” Ceballos added.
Adding to Artemis Salt Corporation’s challenges, the Office of the Building Official (OBO) issued a Notice of Suspension halting construction of a salt storage facility under its name.
While the company possesses a building permit, OBO head Amy Tentia explained that violations of Presidential Decree 1096 (National Building Code of the Philippines) were discovered.
These violations included errors in submitted plans and specifications, specifically concerning required easements, and inaccurate data provided by the company, the BCCO said.
The firm has three days to respond to the notice or face legal repercussions, the press release said.*