DPWH urged to defer QC road widening

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City councilor has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to defer the scheduled road widening of Visayas Avenue extension as it would affect hundreds of families living in the area.

“There is a need to delay the implementation of the project until a relocation site for the affected families is identified,” sixth district Councilor Melencio Castelo said.

Under the local government code, Castelo said a road widening project may only be implemented after relocation sites have been provided to the affected residents.

Meanwhile, the city government is keen on implementing the widening of IBP Road that will affect around 600 informal settler families.

In an earlier text message to The STAR, Tadeo Palma, secretary to Mayor Herbert Bautista, said they plan to relocate this year the families who will be affected by the road widening project.

The city council approved a resolution last July authorizing the local government to relocate families living in the area. 

Palma said the city government agreed to undertake the removal of 628 informal settler families subject to rules prescribed under Republic Act 7279 and the clearing of structures that will be affected by the improvement of IBP Road.

The measure authorized Bautista to enter into an agreement with DPWH for the road widening and improvement of the thoroughfare near the House of Representatives.                          

The DPWH will start the project only after the affected families have been relocated.

Palma said the relocation of the informal settlers will be in compliance with the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.