BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Greg Gasataya, together with department heads and representatives from key city offices, issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against the construction of a concrete riprap structure along Sulom Creek in Barangay Villamonte on Friday, November 28, 2025, as part of the city’s intensified campaign to clear waterways and protect the environment. The order followed an inspection of the perimeter fence owned by the property owner conducted on November 21, 2025, led by Mayor Gasataya, City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu, OIC City Engineer Engr. Loben Ceballos, Office of the Building Official (OBO) OIC Engineer Amy Tentia and the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO). “When we inspected the area, we noticed that the land was very loose and may be prone to landslides, especially since there are residents living below the site. We do not want any casualties, which is why urgent action is necessary,” Chiu said, citing multiple violations related to the ongoing construction. Earlier, Mayor Gasataya, together with the heads of key city departments, also issued a separate CDO against the construction of a concrete fence along a creek in Barangay 20, prompting the property owner and its management to demolish the structure that was blocking the waterway. “This is in line with the city’s commitment to ensuring that rivers and other waterways remain free from obstructions that impede water flow and contribute to flooding in nearby areas,” the mayor added. The CDO requires the property owner to submit a satisfactory written explanation within 72 hours. Although the project is covered by a fencing permit dated May 28, 2024, multiple irregularities were discovered during the inspection. These include encroachment on the creek’s legal easement, obstruction of a natural waterway in violation of Article 51 of Presidential Decree No. 1067 (Water Code of the Philippines), the National Building Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and other environmental and local ordinances. The inspection also revealed inaccurate information in the fencing permit application, including the failure to secure required certifications from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and other concerned agencies; lack of favorable endorsement from the Barangay Villamonte Sangguniang Barangay; and material deviations from the approved plans. As a result, the fencing permit has been recommended for suspension and/or revocation due to non-compliance with required procedures and submission of inaccurate data. Barangay Villamonte Captain Rommel Flores said the barangay previously conducted a joint inspection with Barangay Mandalagan following concerns raised by nearby residents. “The ‘pika-pika’ (riprap) used to be wider when the project started compared to its current condition, where further developments have already been made. The owner requested a fencing permit from us, so we sought guidance from the Office of the Building Official and the City Engineer’s Office. They clarified that any alteration of the creek requires proper study before proceeding,” Flores explained. The Office of the Building Official, in coordination with the City Engineer’s Office, BENRO, and the City Legal Office, was directed to strictly enforce the CDO, including the immediate stoppage of all construction work and the inspection and verification of the complete removal of all structures encroaching on the creek and its legal easement. (Bacolod City Communications Office)