ILOILO City – The city government has given owners of structures obstructing roads a week to remove them. “If they will not dismantle the obstructions, the city government will have to act accordingly,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Illegal parking won’t be tolerated, too, according to the mayor who is acting on the order of President Rodrigo Duterte for local chief executives to reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends.
“We are asking for voluntarily dismantling,” said Treñas, or the city government would order a demolition.
The weeklong ultimatum started on July 25.
Leading the effort are the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) and Task Force Against Squatters and Illegal Structures (Task Force ASIS).
The city government has also tapped the help of the Iloilo City Police Office and Land Transportation Office.
“I hope people will understand. This is a direct order from the President. The city government is complying or we will face suspension,” said Treñas.
He is also enlisting the assistance of barangay officials through the Office of the Barangay Affairs.
“Indi lang ako. Barangay officials will also be suspended where illegal road structures and obstructions are found,” said Treñas.
According to Regional Director Ariel Iglesia of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Western Visayas, the President repeated his order during a meeting with the mayors and governors on July 23 at Manila Hotel.
The following day, July 24, Treñas issued a memorandum order on the road clearing.
On July 25 and 26, the PSTMO conducted an inventory of city streets with obstructions.
During his State of the Nation Address on July 22, President Duterte ordered DILG secretary Eduardo Año to be tough on local chief executives tolerating road obstructions.
“If there is a mayor or a governor or kung ano kang…sino kang demonyo ka, i-suspend mo, Sir Año. Give him time and if he cannot, if he is not up to it, then papahingahin mo na lang. Suspend mo na,” said Duterte.
According to Jeck Conlu, PSTMO chief, barangay captains of villages where roads have obstructions would be summoned.
“Those obstructing roads would be issued with notices then ordered to remove the obstructions,” said Conlu.
If they refuse to voluntarily remove the obstructions, Conlu said, his office would do the removal or demolition.
DILG Region 6’s Iglesia urged local chief executives to heed the President’s directive.
“Public roads are supposed to be used as roads. Hindi dapat ibigay sa ibang gamit like naging tindahan, terminal at kung anu-ano pa,” said Iglesia.
The presidential order was meant to ease traffic congestion./PN
Paano na ya mga baranggay hall nga naga obstruct….na inspection na sng city engineer and the result was obstruction ang baranggay hall cno na ya ma demolish or ma demolosh man na ayhan
sa Brgy. Liberation road damo obstruction sa dalan
So glad- it’s about time that is enforced…. just so many squatters everywhere living in places they should not be. It will make Iloilo cleaner and better. Thanks Gerry!