By Emme Rose Santiagudo
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded local government units (LGUs) to remove road obstructions following new orders from the national government.
On Monday, DILG issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-027 mandating LGUs to clear roads of obstructions.
“LGUs shall cause the removal of the said obstructions through the regular conduct of road clearing operations in all provincial, city, municipal, and barangay roads, and national primary and secondary roads,” the memorandum said.
Road clearing shall mean the removal of illegal or unauthorized road obstruction along the right-of-way which encompasses the entire width of the road carriageway and sidewalk.
These obstructions are “structures, materials, or activities within the road right-of-way that impede the free and clear passage of motor vehicles or pedestrians and/or pose danger or cause injury to motorists, pedestrians, or occupants of nearby structures”.
DILG listed entities or structures that are considered road obstructions like vehicles parked on prohibited places as specified in Section 46 of Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code), or on sidewalks, paths, or alleys not intended for vehicular parking pursuant to Section 52 of the same act.
Vehicular terminals except in areas designated by the concerned LGU and vending sites for any kind of item, are also considered road obstructions.
DILG also identified drying of rice (sic) or other crops, and barangay outposts, halls, markers, and directories that eat into road sections as examples of road obstructions that must be removed.
Other road obstructions are:
*House encroachments that obstruct the road right-of-way, protruding gates, conduct of household activities, and tents, except those being temporarily used for funerals and other similar activities.
*Conduct of sports, sports facilities, and other related activities.
*Construction materials including sand, gravel, cement, steel bars, logs, and the likes.
*Debris, waste materials, and other junked items.
*Other structures, materials, or activities identified by the LGU as obstructions through their road inventory.
LGUs, especially barangays, have 75 days starting Monday to clear primary to tertiary roads.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año warned that local chief executives shall be issued show-cause orders in case of non-compliance and failure to provide sufficient response. Worse, failure to follow shall result in the filing of appropriate administrative laws and policies.
In Iloilo City, DILG Director Roy Defiño said their office is monitoring the compliance of city barangays.
So far, the validation team organized by the mayor has validated 120 out of the 180 barangays in the metro, according to Defiño.
