NAGA CITY—The private structures constructed at the foot of Mabulo Bridge here, that District Engineer Willard Atutubo warned, two weeks ago, to be encroaching the road right-of-way (ROW), has been endorsed by Mayor Jesse Robredo to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in behalf the residents occupying the right side approach of the bridge, according to the city engineer.

        Engr. Leon Palmiano, chief of the Naga City Engineering Office, revealed that Robredo sent an official communication dated Dec. 11, 1995 that asked the DPWH regional office to allow private individuals build their homes and businesses at the foot of Mabulo Bridge.

Since 1996, these private buildings have been occupying the right side of the Mabulo Bridge which is part of the national road.

        The DPWH regional director then, Domingo Villaseñor, approved, in a letter response to the Robredo on Aug. 9, 1996, the request to build private structures on the national road’s area.

        “The mayor wrote the DPWH in behalf of the residents to use that public land which was approved,” Palmiano revealed.

        He said Villaseñor approved the request that the portion of the approach of Mabulo Bridge be used by private individuals with the condition that the DPWH can take it back anytime when the national government decides to use it.

        With the approval of the DPWH, private buildings have been occupying the right portion of the Mabulo Bridge’s approach since 1996, according to the city engineer here.

        The public land is at the back of the Macro Media’s lighted ads structure that the DPWH ordered to be dismantled because of violation of the road right-of-way.

        The Macro Media in partnership with the Naga City local government unit (LGU) built the lighted ads structure with no permit from the DPWH.