By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
The bunkhouse located under Jalandoni Bridge in Brgy. Nabitasan, La Paz, Iloilo City will be demolished by Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures (ASIS) in preparation for the staging of Dinagyang 2020.
Task Force ASIS head Lovejoy Hosenilla said Mayor Jerry Treñas personally instructed their office to remove the structure as the city gears up for the influx of Dinagyang spectators and visitors.
“Sugo na sang aton mayor tungod nga nakita may palauboton kita nga Dinagyang Festival damo kita bisita sa siyudad kag indi kita gusto ni mayor nga may structure sa tulay,” Hosenilla said in a phone interview on Tuesday.
Hosenilla said the structure temporarily houses construction workers of the Esplanade 6 project.
He added that DPWH already gave them the go signal to remove the structure.
“Indi na allowed bisan sang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) nga ang dalom taytay mapaistaran. Na-consider lang na sa bunk house sa mga contractor kay temporary istaran sang mga tawo nga gaubra sang Esplanade 6,” he stressed.
According to Josenilla, the contractor of the workers agreed to voluntarily dismantle the structure and is currently looking for other sites to house the workers.
“Okay man sila indi na sila mahulat sa amon. Kon indi nila makuha, amo na ang pagsulod namon basta ang hambal sa amon ni mayor dapat ang structure indi maglabot sa Dinagyang,” he said.
Hosenilla said the bunkhouse is just the first of the structures that they plan to demolish in preparation for Dinagyang 2020.
He said they will demolish kiosks or food stalls that have been set up in roads that will be used for Dinagyang activities.
“Ang mga kiosks nga ara sa dalan nga indi pwede baligyaan paga-demolish man naton and ang iban pa gid na mga illegal structures,” he said.
