DILG: Road clearing operations on track

MANILA, Philippines — Clearing operations in Metro Manila are on track to meet the 60-day deadline imposed on mayors by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), an official said yesterday. 

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the clearing operations have been successful .

“We are going according to our pace. Nakita natin, pang 20 days na, meaning to say we still have 40 days. Pero nakikita nan natin ang magandang progress,” he said in an interview. 

Año and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte led the demolition of a barangay hall and a police community precinct that were found to be road obstructions. 

Belmonte said they have so far cleared about 80 percent of the roads during the first few weeks of the implementation.

She said sustaining cleared roads is the harder part for the city government.

Año agreed with Belmonte, saying local government units (LGUs) and the barangays should be responsible in ensuring that  roads are cleared of obstructions.

“Yung 60 days, countdown lang para malinis ang mga kalsada pero malaking part ay maintenance and sustenance. Kapag hindi nila ma-maintain, we will push them,” he said, referring to to the LGUs. 

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general Manager Jojo Garcia said they were impressed by the performance of local chief executives. 

Marikina was cited for being the first city in Metro Manila to clear roads even before President Duterte issued the directed to reclaim public spaces during his State of the Nation Address. 

MMDA Chairman Danny Lim said the mayors must ensure that the roads are free from obstructions. 

The 60-day deadline started on July 29 after the DILG mandated all local executives to clear the streets of obstructions. 

Mayors and other local officials may face administrative charges, including dereliction of duty and negligence if they fail to achieve significant results in the road clearing operations within the time period.