3 barangay halls torn down

SIDEWALK ‘SQUATTER’ The barangay hall at the corner of P. Ocampo and Sandejas Streets in Manila is the latest “casualty” in the city’s road clearing program. —manila public information office

MANILA, Philippines–Three barangay halls in Manila that were considered sidewalk obstructions have been demolished as the city government continued its clearing operations even after the expiration of the 60-day ultimatum from the interior department to reclaim all public roads.

On Saturday, the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) tore down the two-story Barangay 729 hall at the corner of P. Ocampo and Sandejas Streets, near St. Scholastica’s College.

Also demolished were the Barangay 688 hall on the sidewalk of Singalong Street and the Barangay 694 office at Malvar corner Leon Guinto Streets near Philippine Christian University.

Immaterial, says Isko

“Let me be clear, the 60 days [have] ended. But we still do not know the grade of Manila. Whether we pass or fail, that is immaterial to me,” Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said on Friday in his weekly program “The Capital Report.”

He urged barangay officials and DEPW personnel to keep on conducting clearing operations regularly in the city.

The city government earlier reported that 95 percent of Mabuhay Lanes and major thoroughfares under its jurisdiction had been cleared of obstructions.

The Quezon City office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government was asked to verify the information between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4.