6 cities, 1 municipality in Metro Manila beat DILG deadline to clear roads

MANILA, Philippines — Less than a month before the 60-day period given to local government units (LGUs) to clear public roads in their localities of obstructions ends, six cities and a municipality in Metro Manila have completed their road-clearing operations, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the cities of Marikina, Pasay, Navotas, Malabon, Valenzuela, and San Juan, and the municipality of Pateros were able to clear their streets of obstructions ahead of the deadline of the 60-day period that began last July 29 and ends on September 29.

READ: Marikina beats 60-day deadline to clear roads

Año specifically commended the Marikina City local government, which he said has been enforcing measures to clear public roads of obstructions even before the DILG issued Memorandum Circular No. 2019-121 which set the deadline, in compliance with the order of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“But of course we will still validate the reports of these LGUs (local government units). Ibig sabihin andoon pa rin ‘yung ating inspection kung talagang 100 percent cleared na ‘yung lahat ng roads doon (We will still inspect to see if 100 percent of the roads there were cleared of obstructions),” Año said in a press conference.

Of all regions in the country, Año said Metro Manila has the most compliant LGUs in clearing public roads of obstructions, including illegally-parked vehicles, sidewalk vendors, street dwellers, and barangay outposts.

The DILG chief added that Quezon City has the “hardest situation” among all LGUs in Metro Manila, but also commended the local government in the city for its efforts in complying with the order.

“It’s mostly the size and the population. Quezon City is 40 percent of NCR (National Capital Region) so mas malaki ‘yung challenge (so the challenge is bigger). More roads to clear,” DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya explained.

But in general, Año said he is satisfied with the performance of all LGUs in Metro Manila and that the nationwide drive to carry out Duterte’s order is on the right track.

Año said that in Metro Manila alone, a total of 139,959 meters of roads and 52,831 meters of sidewalk have been cleared of obstructions and other structures. He said clearing operations have led to the removal of 1,444 illegal vendors, 49 tricycle, jeepney, and pedicab terminals, 1,292 illegally-parked vehicles from public roads.

At present, 43.4 percent of LGUs nationwide have reported conducting clearing operations in their localities. Malaya said the DILG has yet to receive reports on accomplishments of the rest of LGUs.

Following Metro Manila — which has 100 percent of LGUs complying with the DILG order — the most compliant regions according to the DILG are Cagayan Valley with 77.5 percent compliance, Central Luzon (62.3 percent), Central Visayas (58.3 percent), Calabarzon (53.5 percent), and Western Visayas 52.6 percent).  /muf