By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
THE Iloilo City Public Safety and Transportation Office (PSTMO) appealed for volunteerism and cooperation from the public as their operation on removing illegal structures and obstructions or Operation “Hawan Karsada” in the metro kicks off.
In a phone interview, PSTMO head Jeck Conlu said that all the illegal structures and obstructions in the metro cannot be removed in just one sitting and that their achievements must be sustained.
Hence, he appealed to the public to be more understanding of Operation “Hawan Karsada”.
“Gapangayo kami pasensya kay indi man namon maubos ang tanan nga illegal obstructions sa siyudad sa isa lang ka operation kay kadako sang siyudad so gina-amat amat lang namon,” Conlu said.
During their operations on Monday, Conlu said that they were able to remove illegal structures in three barangays in the Lapuz district.
“Wala sang resistance actually because ang mga pumuluyo and barangay officials nag-cooperate man and nag-amat-amat man sila panguha na sang mga illegal structures so ang indi nila makaya kuhaon amo na lang amon ginkuha,” he said.
He emphasized that their biggest challenge is maintaining the cleared areas.
“Ang pinakadako nga challenge amo na ang paghalin namon and mapasiguro nga indi na magbalalik ang mga na-operate namon,” he said.
Conlu said that while they have teams that will conduct random checks, he stressed that it is left to the barangay officials to monitor and follow through the areas that were cleared.
“May ara kami team nga galibot 24/7 and part man sang ila responsibility ang mag-check up and mag-follow up sang areas nga naagyan na namon. Dapat nila i-report ang ila makita sa mga barangay officials kay sila gid na ang ma-monitor,” he said.
With the popularity of social media, Conlu also urged the netizens to report and help them identify other areas with illegal structures and obstructions in the metro.
“Kun may area sila nga makita send gid nila sa amon kay bal-an ko ang mga Ilonggos very active gid sila sa social media,” he said.
The next target of the Operation “Hawan Karsada” will be the City Proper district, the dilapidated Iloilo Terminal Market, and the rest of the metro.
“Ang nagapugong lang gid sa amon ang tiyempo nga gaulan-ulan. Sige-sigehun gid ni naton ang operation,” he said.
Operation “Hawan Karsada” is headed by the PSTMO, alongside the Task Force Anti Squatting and Illegal Structures (ASIS), Philippine National Police (PNP), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
