DILG reminds LGUs to expedite road clearing ops

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday called on local government units to expedite its respective road clearing operations.

The government’s 60-day deadline to clear roads from obstructions will be on Sunday, September 29.

“While we observe significant progress in many parts of the country, much remains to be done,” DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.

Malaya underscored that there would be no extension on the 60-day deadline set under DILG Memorandum Circular No.121-2019.

The said order is in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte for all local government units to return to public use all roads and sidewalks that have been appropriated for private ends.

“We wish to remind all city and municipal mayors that the power to discipline negligent or uncooperative barangay captains is in your hands,” Malaya said.

According to Malaya, the DILG validation teams will be checking all local government units on Monday to see if they comply with the order.

The DILG official said those local government units, which will not comply to the said memorandum, will be issued show cause orders by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año before their names are submitted to the Chief Executive.

“We urge the public to support your respective LGU officials and to immediately self-demolish structures that have encroached on a public street or road,” Malaya said.

“The success of this program also depends on the cooperation of the general public,” Malaya added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News