This will be Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) position when it meets today with representatives of the Manila city government to discuss the latter’s long-term plans on an erstwhile busy portion of the national road that has been closed for a park construction.
DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut said they have set a dialogue with Manila City Engineer Armand Andres late this afternoon "to find out what they really plan to do with the road."
Another road closure expected to be tackled is the case of Muelle del Rio in Intramuros where a park was also built. But unlike Rizal Avenue’s 500-meter stretch, Muelle del Rio is a city road and is thus under the supervision and maintenance of the city government.
"We will find out from the City Engineer of Manila what their short, medium, and long term plans are. For all we know these (constructions) may only be temporary and traffic will be allowed later on," said Yabut.
But Yabut said it is definite that a permanent closure of Rizal Avenue cannot be allowed while Muelle del Rio’s closure may still require public consultations and an accompanying legislation as provided by law.
The DPWH turned a blind eye on the constructions until an opinion by its Legal Division, through DPWH National Capital Region (NCR) Director Ramon Aquino, was finally leaked out to the press.
Yabut agreed with the legal opinion that under the law the roads cannot just be closed by the city government.
Aquino, however, denied he issued the legal opinion, saying he signed it merely as an "information."
"I cannot issue a legal opinion because I am not even a lawyer and I never declared the said projects illegal," said Aquino during a conversation with Andres.
Manila City Legal officer Melchor Monsod, on the other hand, emphasized that the projects were legal since Rizal Avenue and Muelle del Rio were never withdrawn from public use.