Local government units (LGUs) nationwide have been given 75 days to clear all roads of all forms of obstruction.
The Road Clearing Operation 2.0 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) covers all provincial, city, municipal and barangay roads, and national primary and secondary roads.
“Binibigyan ko kayo ng 75 calendar days para gawin ito. This will continue whether you like it or not, especially since it has produced favorable results for the people,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in statement.
The expanded program, which seeks to reclaim public roads that are being used for private purposes, started on Monday, Feb. 17.
The DILG will not only validate the performance of the mayors but also of the punong barangays.
“We recognize that barangays have the No. 1 responsibility in keeping their roads obstruction-free. We will also assess the performance of the barangays and file appropriate charges if necessary,” Año said.
Under Memorandum Circular 2020-027, punong barangays are in charge of the “road-clearing operations in barangay roads and minor public-use streets within their jurisdictions, including the maintenance of other local roads turned over by the city or municipal government.”
Año said non-compliant local chief executives will be given a show cause order.
The DILG’s road clearing program started last year. It yielded positive results for the government as only 97 out of the 1,245 LGUs all over the country were found to be non-compliant.
The DILG also ensured that continuous monitoring and evaluation of LGU-compliance and possible administrative cases will carry on “to guarantee that LGUs will be doing their end of the bargain.”
“Nagawa na natin ito noon, ngayon mga barangay naman. We will continue to keep an eye on the LGU and barangay compliance and will not hesitate to file a new batch of administrative cases sa mga pasaway na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nakakasunod,” he said.
Año also signed a memorandum reminding all LGUs and the Philippine National Police of the law that no tricycles and pedicabs should operate on national highways.
Under this memorandum, LGUs must also create a tricycle route plan (TRP) to rationalize the routes of all tricycles in these respective areas.
“Bilang bahagi ng ating road-clearing effort at pagpapaluwag ng kalsada, pinapaalala natin sa ating mga kababayan na bawal ang mga tricycle at pedicab sa national highway,” he said.
“Huwag na po tayong makulit at marami na din pong mga aksidente na nangyari bunga ng kapabayaan dito,” Año added.IMT
