MANILA, Philippines — Implementation of the government’s road clearing policy will resume in areas with less restrictive community quarantine on November 16, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.
Re-launched in February, the government had given local government units (LGUs) 75 days to clear roads of obstruction in a bid to help ease traffic flow and bring back order to streets. But the program was halted in March, at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, to allow LGUs to focus on efforts to address the health crisis.
Now, LGUs have until January 15, 2021, to comply with the DILG directive.
“Sisimulan na po ulit ang road clearing starting November 16. We hope that the LGUs, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, will show the same enthusiasm and positive results that they were able to achieve last year as we aim for safer and accessible roads free from illegal and potentially hazardous encroachments,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
“Despite the January 15 deadline, we wish to remind the LGUs that RCO is year-long endeavor, kaya kailangan natin ang kanilang commitment at pakikiisa (we need their commitment and cooperation.),” he added.
Año said the “full” resumption of road clearing operations will take place in areas under modified general community quarantine or MGCQ and new normal or post quarantine scenario.
“Partial” resumption of road clearing operations, on the other hand, will take place in areas under general community quarantine or GCQ, he added.
But road clearing operations will remain suspended in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ and enhanced community quarantine or ECQ, Año also said.
To recall, DILG first launched a 60-day road clearing operations in July 2019.
Subsequently, 10 local chief executives were slapped with administrative charges for their alleged failure to comply with the road clearing policy.
On February 17, DILG re-launched the campaign and again ordered LGUs to rid their roads of obstruction.
DILG’s road clearing drive was prompted by President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to take back all public roads to help ease Metro Manila traffic.