BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 4, Series of 2017 creating the Task Force on Operation “Panghawan” (clearing) headed by Executive Assistant Celestino Guara Jr. as chairman.

Guara said the task force is tasked to clear the streets year-round, but they will first focus on removing illegal obstructions in major roads that will be used during the Asean Summit meetings in March.

In his EO, Leonardia said there is a need to smoothen the flow of traffic on the roadways of Bacolod by removing illegal obstructions.

There is also a need to remove informal settlers from danger zones such as in the banks of waterways like rivers and creeks, he added.

The mayor said the task force shall coordinate and monitor the systematic planning, effective implementation, and sustained action on the removal of illegal obstructions from roads to smoothen the flow of traffic in Bacolod City.

The task force will also coordinate with private, faith-based, non-governmental, or people’s organizations that will serve as its citizen’s watch group in monitoring the removal operations and the re-encroachment of illegal obstructions on roads and their shoulders and informal settlers on danger zones. (PR)