All mayors in the country will be given 60 days to clear the sidewalks and roads of obstructions, an official of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday.
Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said the order, which will be formalized in a memorandum circular, is in compliance with the directive of President Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.
In his speech, Duterte reiterated his directive to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and all concerned local officials in Metro Manila, and all other cities to undertake immediate action to ensure the “speedy and smooth flow of vehicular traffic.”
“Reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends. Marami diyan,” Duterte ordered.
“Obstructions ang major cause ng traffic. Papalabasin namin ‘yung memorandum circular na binabanggit namin sa kanila. First, the DILG is requesting that all mayors submit to us a road network in their respective cities. Then, magkaroon ng road audit para ma-identify lahat ng kalsada at bangketa na mayroong illegal structures; then hihingi kasi kami sa kanila ng plano kung paano magbabaklas ng illegal structures para malinis ‘yung kalsada,” Densing said after he got out of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City.
Densing said that secretaries of the DILG will be assigned to monitor the local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.
“Magiging mahigpit kami dito sa DILG. Just to emphasize, the undersecretaries and assistant sectaries of DILG will be assigned to respective LGUs here in the metropolis para sila mismo mag-monitor sa Metro Manila,” he said.
In the memorandum circular that the DILG will issue, Densing said once a mayor is proven to have committed “gross negligence and dereliction of duty” for not being able to clean sidewalks and roads, he or she will be suspended.
“Within 60 days kailangan po itong magawa. Sa MC (Memorandum Circular) kapag ‘di nagawa within 60 days ang paglilinis, magkakaron tayo ng imbestigasyon base sa binanggit ni Pangulong Duterte sa dialogue with the mayors na once we see the gross negligence and dereliction of duty we can recommend the suspension of the mayor. And the President, without second thought, will sign our recommendation for suspension,” the DILG undersecretary said.
The implementation of the memorandum circular, according to Densing, is set next week upon its issuance.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said the 60 days given by the DILG is enough to clean a city of obstructions.
According to Densing, nobody in the MMC meeting opposed the 60-day deadline. (Jel Santos)