Over 80 QC barangays cleared of road obstructions — Belmonte
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Over 80 barangays in Quezon City (QC) have been cleared of obstruction on roads and sidewalks, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said Friday.
More than half of the 142 barangays in the city have been cleared three weeks after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año ordered local government units (LGUs) to clear roads within a 60-day period.
“I think more than 80 barangays have already been cleared (of obstructions). ‘Yan ang binalita sa akin,” Belmonte told reporters in an interview during a clearing operation in Brgy. Damayang Lagi along E. Rodriguez Avenue.
During the clearing operation, personnel of the both the local government and national government demolished the barangay’s office as it encroached on the sidewalk.
Belmonte revealed that the said barangay hall is only one of 17 other barangay offices that need to be demolished as it obstructs sidewalks and roads.
“Inuna po natin bigyan ng tugon ‘yung barangay hall na matatagpuan sa mga tinatawag nating mga mabuhay lanes at national highways at secondary national highways,” she said.
“In-identify ko na, kinausap ko na ‘yung mga kapitan at sinabi kong maghanap na sila ng lugar sa kani-kanilang mga barangay na pwedeng bilhin ng lungsod ng Quezon,” Belmonte added.
The said barangay will temporarily move its operations to a makeshift office also found along E. Rodriguez Avenue.
To maintain the cleanliness of the city’s road, Belmonte said it has instructed a task force to deputize some of its personnel to impose fines on those who will be found obstructing sidewalks and roads.
She has also ordered the purchase of wheel clamps to apprehend vehicles parking illegally on public roads.
As for the illegal vendors, Belmonte assured that the city government has plans on relocating them.
She said the government is finding space for them in private and public markets. She also ordered the closure of small inner roads to make it as pedestrian walkways for the vendors to occupy.
The government has also established night markets to accommodate the vendors.
For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is assisting LGUs in the clearing of roads.
However, MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said once the roads are clear, the maintenance is turned over to the care of the barangays.
“Alam naman natin ‘yung mga proyektong ito ay hindi kaya ng isang ahensya lang, hindi kaya ng LGU lang. Kaya nakikita niyo kasama lagi ang MMDA, kasama natin ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno para tulung tulong na gawin ito,” Lim told reporters in the interview.
“Kapag naclear na ‘yung lugar, itu-turnover natin ‘yan sa mga barangay,” he added. /muf
