By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
The Iloilo City government is enforcing stricter regulations at Iloilo North Bank Road, also known as Sunset Boulevard, following complaints about “park shots” and garbage buildup.
Mayor Jerry Treñas on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, expressed frustration over social media photos showing trash accumulating along the wetland area beside the road.
He said he has ordered the General Services Office (GSO) and concerned barangays to keep the area clean.
The City Veterinarian’s Office will also ensure that stray animals do not roam in the vicinity.
“Temporary garbage bins, as well as kaings, will be placed to encourage proper waste disposal, and green guards will be deployed to help maintain cleanliness,” Treñas announced via Facebook on Saturday.
Personnel from the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the Animal Control Unit were deployed Saturday evening to ensure the safety of minors and impound stray animals.
GSO and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) personnel also led cleanup efforts Sunday morning.
The mayor said police visibility will be increased in response to “park shots,” where groups park their vehicles for recreational activities, often involving alcohol consumption.
Shortly after the Dinagyang Festival, photos circulated online showing empty bottles, used cups, and food wrappers littering the roadside from festivalgoers who engaged in “park shots.”
Authorities will strictly enforce existing ordinances on curfew for minors, anti-littering, and the prohibition of public drinking.
“Keeping Sunset Boulevard clean and orderly is not just the city’s job—it is everyone’s responsibility. We take pride in Iloilo City’s beauty and order, and I urge all Ilonggos and visitors alike to do their part. Let us respect and protect the spaces that the government has worked hard to build,” Treñas added.
The mayor has sought authorization from the Sangguniang Panglungsod to formalize the transfer of the road and its premises from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the city government.
The PHP 2.07-billion, 4.972-kilometer road, which connects Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district to neighboring Oton town, was initially opened to pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists on June 23, 2024, to mark DPWH’s 126th anniversary.
It was officially opened for full public use on Jan. 24, 2025, in time for the Dinagyang Festival.
