ILOILO – Local government units (LGUs) must resume clearing roads of obstructions, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Failure to do so is gross negligence and there would be disciplinary action, said DILG-Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay, citing Memorandum Circular No. 085 on the road clearing.
The memo (“Implementation of Road Clearing in the New Normal”) was addressed to provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangays, and heads of local sanggunians.
Right after this was released on June 20 by the DILG central office, Sumagaysay said DILG-Iloilo right away disseminated it to all concerned local government units.
“Kabalo na ina sila kon ano nga obstructions ang ila i-clear. Kon ano to gin-clear nila previously…mga payag-payag and talipapa and all other obstructions nga maka-hinder sa flow of traffic,” said Sumagaysay.
LGUs may conduct road clearing operations on local and national roads. This may be undertaken in coordination with the national government agencies concerned with the management of the said roads, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Transportation.
Road clearing shall also be conducted on existing road right of way which shall include sidewalks, road shoulders, and the travel ways.
However, no encroachment or obstruction which are part of any building or permanent structure may be removed without due notice to the owner thereof.
To ensure the continued conveyance of electricity, no electric pole shall be removed by the LGUs without due coordination with the operator/owner of the poles.
Obstructing trees may be removed in accordance with the rules and requirements impose the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources.
Memorandum Circular No. 085 further lists the responsibilities of LGUs.
For provincial governments
* spearhead road clearing operations in all provincial roads, which may be conducted through or in coordination with concerned city and municipal governments
* supervise component city and municipal governments to ensure their compliance with the directives outlined herein
For city and municipal governments
* enact a review of existing road clearing ordinance
* conduct regular road clearing operations in all city and municipal roads in the enforcement / implementation of the aforementioned road clearing ordinance
* maintain provincial roads cleared and turned over by the provincial government
* supervise component barangays to ensure their compliance with the directives outlined herein
For barangays
* conduct regular road clearing operations in all barangay roads and implementing policies for the efficient use of the same, such as enforcement of no parking, one-side parking, or other similar strategies, in accordance with the ordinance duly enacted by the Sangguniang Bayan / Panlungsod
* maintain city / municipal roads cleared and turned-over by the city/municipal government
To ensure that road clearing operations are indeed being done, DILG directed its regional, provincial and city directors to lead the monitoring.
Sumagaysay pressed LGUs to “strengthen pa gid kag be efficient sa pag-implement sang road clearing…”
“This is also for health and safety reasons. Bal-an man naton subong dengue season so dapat ang aton LGUs really committed to do their jobs,” said Sumagaysay./PN
