DILG: 97 of over 1,600 LGUs failed in nationwide clearing ops

The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced Friday that it will issue show cause orders to 97 local governments that under-performed in the road clearing operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

"These LGUs are given five days from receipt of the show cause orders for them to explain their non-compliance and under-performance," Año said in a press briefing, noting that local executives may face preventive suspension should their negligence be proven.

Philippine Statistics Authority 2019 records indicate there are 1,489 municipalities and 145 cities in the country.

The numbers of failing LGUs distributed according to regions are as follows:

•     Region I (11)
•     Region II (1)
•     Region III (1)
•     Region IV-B (7)
•     Region V (10)
•     Region VI (1)
•     Region VII (12)
•     Region VIII (8)
•     Region IX (19)
•     Region X (13)
•     Region XI (3)
•     Region XII (3)
•     Region XIII (4)
•     CAR (4)

Meanwhile, 1,148 LGUs nationwide have passed the validation—328 showed high compliance, 497 exhibited medium compliance, and 323 had low compliance.

Over 300 others are still under validation.

The DILG chief gave a satisfactory rating of 80% for the nationwide clearing operations as 6,899 roads have been maximized for public use.

Año explained that the rating system used in the evaluation were as follows:

• 70% and below - failure
• 70-80% - low compliance
• 81-90% - medium compliance
• 91-100% - high compliance

Metro Manila

All of the cities in Metro Manila got a nod from evaluators.

Año, however, noted that even though Taguig City passed, the validating team marked it as low-compliant.

"Sa NCR, ang nangunguna ay Marikina, and then we have San Juan City, Mandaluyong, Caloocan, Malabon, Las Piñas, Pasay City, Valenzuela, Makati, Pateros, Parañaque, Navotas," Año said.

"Ang medium (compliance) ay Quezon City, Pasig, Manila, and Muntinlupa at ang ating low ay Taguig City pero pasado naman," he added.

According to the DILG, 612 roads or 75% of the target in Metro Manila have been cleared of obstruction.

"Compared to 60 days ago and now ay maraming pagbabago. Itong problemang ito ay several years nang napabayaan so nahirapan din ang mga LGUs natin," Año said.

The DILG vowed to continue monitoring the clearing operations nationwide.

"Tuloy-tuloy lang itong programang ito. We will have one in December and we will do it quarterly. So hindi po natatapos 'yung road clearing," said DILG Usec. Jonathan Malaya.

During his  fourth State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the mayors and governors to reclaim public roads or they will face sanctions. —LBG, GMA News