PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the removal of illegal structures occupying the streets of Barangay 16, Bacolod City.

This was confirmed on Monday, January 28, by Bacolod City Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who said that he received a call from Jennifer Joy Ong, assistant secretary in the Office of the President, Thursday afternoon, January 24, informing him about the instruction of Duterte to clear the illegal structures in the said village.

Familiaran immediately called a meeting with the City Legal Office- Enforcement Unit, Department of Public Works and Highways, City Engineer’s Office, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, and the officials of Barangay 16.

On the following day, the joint enforcement team removed about 20 illegal structures occupying the streets in the village.

Familiaran said most of the demolished structures were extensions of the house, sari-sari stores, and coffee shops.

“We explained it to the house owners, and they were cooperative and some of them voluntarily removed the illegal structures,” he said.

Familiaran recalled that on January 12, the President arrived in the city and passed by Barangay 16 before he left Bacolod.

He said the enforcement team also cleared the street, which was being used as a parking area of the pedicab, to give way to the fire trucks.

“Our fire trucks have difficulty penetrating the area because of the illegal structures and pedicab,” he said.

Familiaran disclosed that they will continue to monitor the area to ensure that they will not occupy the streets.