Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against Neo Food Corporation on Thursday, Nov. 27, after leading an inspection team to Purok Santol, Barangay 20, to investigate a report of an illegal fence.
The order stops the construction of a fence extending directly into the creek, obstructing water flow and contributing to flooding in nearby areas, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
“The city remains vigilant and will not tolerate illegal structures that compromise environmental laws and the safety of Bacolod residents,” the mayor stressed.
The CDO was served Thursday afternoon following an on-site inspection led by Gasataya, together with City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu, City Engineer’s Office OIC Engr. Loben Rafael Ceballos, Office of the Building Official (OBO) OIC Engr. Amy Tentia, and Barangay 20 Captain Mark Abancio.
“We are grateful for the mayor’s immediate action, and we hope our flood problems will be resolved once the structure is removed,” Abancio said.
He added that flooding in adjacent areas, including Purok Tisa and Purok Avocado, had worsened since the construction of the illegal structure began.
Initial findings revealed that the ongoing fence construction lacked the necessary fencing permit from the Office of the Building Official.
The structure also encroaches into the creek and violates the mandated three-meter public easement zone, the press release said.
Drone-captured images showed that nearly half of the creek had been occupied by the illegal structure. Officials further noted that the contractor was on the verge of demolishing a critical flood wall before city authorities intervened.
Gasataya said the violation is not a minor infraction but an illegal seizure of public property, in direct violation of the Water Code of the Philippines, which designates creek banks for public use and prohibits permanent structures that obstruct natural waterways, as well as the National Building Code of the Philippines.
Under the CDO, Neo Food Corporation is ordered to immediately cease construction, remove all illegal fences and structures at its own expense without delay, and restore the creek to ensure unobstructed water flow and public safety.
In addition, the city issued a Show Cause Order granting the company a non-extendible period of 72 hours from receipt to submit a written explanation as to why administrative, civil, and criminal charges should not be filed against its management.*