Salt facility given 72 hours to clear drainage

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By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City government has given Artemis Salt Corporation 72 hours to remove an illegal structure obstructing a drainage outfall at its Barangay Banago facility.

The order followed an ocular inspection conducted Saturday, July 26, 2025, by the City Legal Office Enforcement Team and the City Engineer’s Office.

Mayor Alfredo “Greg” Gasataya, citing the structure’s role in flooding in Sta. Clara Subdivision and nearby areas, directed the City Legal Office, led by Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu, to issue the removal order.

Chiu stressed that failure to comply within 72 hours would result in legal action.

“We ordered the management to voluntarily demolish the illegal structure within 72 hours, or else legal action will be pursued for non-compliance,” Chiu said.

City officials believe removing the structure will significantly reduce flooding in low-lying areas by allowing water to flow directly into the sea.

“This demolition will be a significant step in addressing the persistent flood problems affecting nearby communities,” Chiu added.

Artemis Salt Corporation, through its consultant, Engineer Marcelo Cobrador, committed to comply with the removal order.

Cobrador explained the structure—approximately one meter long and 0.06 meters tall—was intended as a temporary floodwall to prevent seawater intrusion during high tide.

He said the barrier was a short-term measure to reduce the impact of rising sea levels on the facility and nearby communities.

“It was a win-win solution to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels that could potentially damage both the facility and the surrounding communities,” Cobrador said.

The inspection team included City Engineer’s Office officer-in-charge Engr. Loben Ceballos and retired Police Colonel Levy Pangue, head of the enforcement team.

The City Legal Office is set to meet with Artemis Salt Corp’s management today, Monday, July 28, 2025, to assess their compliance.

Earlier, Mayor Gasataya led a cleanup drive in Barangay Banago, where 10,955 kilograms of garbage were collected.

Barangay Banago Captain Arnel Baldo Benjamin, who joined the effort, identified Purok Riverside as a critical waste collection point for Barangays Bata and Mandalagan.

“Even light rain causes flooding here,” Benjamin said.

“We’re thankful for this prioritization. Banago will serve as a model for other barangays.”

Punong Barangay Jerry P. Tingson of Barangay Estefania emphasized the need for environmental action.

“We’re doing our part,” he said.

“This is our response to climate change and rising water levels.”

Councilors Homer Bais, Em Ang, and Celia Flor also joined barangay officials from Banago, Estefania, Vista Alegre, Barangays 1, 23, Singcang-Airport, and Bata in the cleanup activity.

Strong interagency cooperation was evident, with participation from both national and local offices.

These included the City Administrator’s Office led by Atty. Mark Steven Mayo; the City Legal Office under Chiu; the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office led by Dr. Anna Marian Laarni Pornan; the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office under Atty. Allyn Luv Dignadice; and teams from the City Planning and Development Office, City Engineer’s Office, Bacolod Police Station 3, Bacolod Traffic and Transportation Management Department, Revitalized Pulis Sa Barangay, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Gasataya said the Banago cleanup will continue as part of the city’s broader environmental and flood mitigation campaign.