Mayors told: Clear roads in 60 days

OFF-LIMITS A vehicle is towed in San Juan City following Mayor Francis Zamora’s Executive Order No. 4 banning parking on some roads in Barangay Greenhills between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. The MMDA has ordered Metro mayors to “reclaim all public roads.” —PHOTOS BY NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Four days after President Duterte ordered local officials to “reclaim all public roads” from private use, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) gave Metro Manila mayors 60 days to clear the streets under their jurisdiction of illegal vendors and obstructions.

Speaking to reporters after a Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting on Thursday—the first gathering of newly elected Metro chief executives since the May 13 polls—Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said the DILG would issue a memorandum circular next week ordering all mayors nationwide to carry out the President’s orders, as well as conduct a road network audit to identify major bottlenecks in their areas.

Those who fail to comply within 60 days could face administrative charges and suspension from office, Densing said, echoing Mr. Duterte’s directive to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

“Once we find [in our investigation that the mayor is liable] for gross negligence and dereliction of duty, we can recommend the suspension of the [official] and the President, without second thoughts, will sign our recommendation,” Densing said. “We will be severe about this.”

Even barangay officials will not be spared, Densing said, adding: “The responsibility is with the chief executive, the mayor, and whichever barangay (official) fails to [unclog] major bottlenecks in their area. They will also be charged.”

DILG flexes muscles

Officials said this was the first time the DILG flexed its muscles to compel local government units (LGUs) to clear the roads to ease traffic flow. Under the 1991 Local Government Code, city governments have full autonomy in enforcing their own regulations.

But Mr. Duterte’s thinly veiled threat prompted both the DILG and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to revitalize their clearing efforts, starting with the national roads, Mabuhay Lanes and roads identified as alternative routes, said MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia.

Clearing operations are extremely vital in alleviating traffic, said urban planner Jun Palafox Jr.

Even just one parked vehicle on the street “reduces the capacity of the road by 700 to 2,000 vehicles per lane per hour,” Palafox said.

To ensure compliance, the DILG will assign undersecretaries per LGU to monitor their progress and road network audit, Densing said.

But he clarified that the DILG would not meddle in traffic measures that fall under the mandate of the MMDA and LGUs, like banning one-sided parking.

“What we will implement is the [unclogging] of our streets and sidewalks,” he said. “It’s why we are now asking the city councils of all LGUs to review their local ordinances on traffic, and if they have ordinances that allow such structures on the sidewalks, then they have to amend these.”

Vendors to be relocated

The DILG will also leave it to the city mayors to relocate sidewalk vendors, he added.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, whose first week in office was marked by clearing operations in major thoroughfares in the country’s capital, said the government was “finally appreciating the value of reclaiming public roads for the people.”

“It’s high time for each and everyone to do our basic job. [It’s] also important for the local government to be in tune with the national government’s efforts so that we will be in harmony,” he said.

Mayors Vico Sotto of Pasig and Francis Zamora of Mandaluyong also approved new traffic schemes to help decongest traffic within their first few days in office.

Sotto suspended Pasig’s odd-even traffic scheme while Zamora approved Executive Order No. 4 that banned parking on certain streets in Barangay Greenhills between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.  —WITH A REPORT FROM MATTHEW REYSIO-CRUZ