ILOILO City – Road clearing in this southern city is set to resume seven months after this was suspended due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Jeck Conlu, head of the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), underscored the need continue freeing roads of illegal structures.
He disclosed that obstructions have returned to almost 80 percent of public roads and sidewalks once cleared by PSTMO personnel.
This was also noticed by Mayor Jerry Treñas. He cited structures encroaching sidewalks in Molo district that obstruct responding fire trucks.
“May nakit-an ako nga iban nga barangays nga daw nagdamu pa gid obstructions,” said Treñas.
In October last year, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) gave the city a rating of 83 percent in road clearing operations. This rating is higher than the passing rate set by the DILG itself, 70 percent.
Now, Conlu said they are waiting for a memorandum order of the DILG for the resumption of road clearing.
But initially, the PSTMO, according to Conlu, plans to resume “Oplan Hawan Kalsada” by Nov. 17.
Today, they will finalize their plan in a meeting with the city’s chief executive.
Conlu said PSTMO personnel will strictly observe public health protocols against COVID-19 while carrying out their task.
Iloilo City is under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire November.
The DILG recently ordered the resumption of nationwide road-clearing operations depending on the quarantine classification of the local government units (LGUs).
DILG secretary Eduardo Año said the full implementation of road clearing operations will take place in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) while partial implementation will happen in areas under GCQ.
Road clearing operations, however, are suspended in places under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) and ECQ.
Año also reminded LGUs that RCO is a year-long program that requires commitment and unity among communities./PN
