Mayor orders barangay officials to clear roads of obstructions

MAYOR BENG Climaco ordered barangay officials to help the local government in clearing public roads and spaces of all obstruction in compliance to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directives.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the resumption of the road-clearing operation (RCO) in the country and gave local governments (LGUs) 60 days to comply with the Presidential directive to clear all roads of blockades or obstruction to ease the flow of traffic and movement of people.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that with the improved quarantine classification in many areas, the road-clearing will officially commence on November 16 until January 15. “We wish to remind the LGUs that RCO is year-long endeavor, kaya kailangan natin ang kanilang commitment at pakikiisa,” Año said.

In the DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-145 released by Año, road obstructions such as vehicular terminals, except in areas designated by the local governments, vending sites, house encroachments that obstruct the right-of-way, debris, waste materials, and other junked items, among others must be cleared off.

But parked ambulance and public emergency vehicles, checkpoints established by Inter-Agency Task Force, local governments, police and military and temporary obstructions caused by the establishment of bike lanes are exempted from being removed or apprehended.

The banning of motorized pedicabs and tricycles on national roads and highways must be implemented by the local governments notwithstanding the rules and guidelines set by the Department of Transportation on the operation of tricycles during the community quarantine period.

The first ROC was in August after Año, through Memorandum Circular 2019-121, gave mayors 60 days “to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads which are being used for private ends, and in the process rid them of illegal structures and constructions.”

During the first ROC, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the DILG was deluged by complaints from the people about barangay captains who are failing to act and worse being complicit and actively tolerating road obstructions. “The mayors have to make them accountable because that’s their mandate and responsibility,” Malaya said.

Citing the Local Government Code, Malaya said the mayors are the disciplining authority of barangay chairmen. “Impose your authority. Huwag ninyo nang i-asa pa ang pagbabantay sa mga barangay sa ating national government,” he said, citing Section 32 (of the Local Government Code) which states that “the city or municipality, through the city or municipal mayor concerned, shall exercise general supervision over component barangays to ensure that said barangays act within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions.”

In cases of resistance from barangay officials, Malaya said the mayors must exercise their political will and discipline these uncooperative community leaders. “Tapos na ang eleksyon. Trabaho na ngayon. Regardless of whether kapartido o hindi, they (mayors) should suspend or reprimand barangay captains who do not comply with the President’s directive,” he said, adding, road obstructions will not happen without the knowledge of the barangay chairmen. (Zamboanga Post)

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