ROAD CLEARING 2.0. Personnel of the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) office and Market Operations Division Task Force clear the roads in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City, on Tuesday (Feb. 18, 2020). The move was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's directive on the clearing of all roads of obstruction, as contained in a memorandum circular of the DILG. (Photo courtesy of Cebu City Public Information Office)
CEBU CITY – Mayor Edgardo Labella on Tuesday advised officials of the 80 barangays here to “religiously comply” with the directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to implement “road clearing 2.0” on village roads.
Labella said no barangay is exempted from complying with Memorandum Circular 2020-027 signed by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.
He said the circular is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to reclaim the public roads.
“Of course, they have to religiously and effectively carry out as mandated by the DILG. If they need assistance from the city government, we are willing to provide assistance,” Labella said.
As opening salvo of the new road-clearing order, personnel from the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) office and Market Operations Division Task Force of the city government cleared in the interior roads of Barangay Ermita.
Members of the Cebu City Police Station 5 and the barangay council headed by chairman Mark Miral, assisted the team from the city government in clearing obstructions in the market village.
The DILG has given local government units (LGUs) 75 days to finish the second round of road clearing operations in their respective localities.
Through the circular, Año directed all LGUs to continue the implementation of the road-clearing directive and ensure that the efforts are sustained.
The second wave of clearing operations will now include local and tertiary roads, as stated under the new DILG order.
The circular said LGUs must enact or review existing ordinances in relation to the road-clearing operation; conduct an inventory of roads within their jurisdiction; conduct regular removal of obstructions in provincial, city, municipal, barangay roads and national primary and secondary roads; implement a displacement strategy for those affected by the operation; rehabilitate cleared roads; and establish a grievance mechanism in which citizens can report obstructions, provide suggestion, or voice out implementation concerns.
The provincial governors are also directed to ensure compliance of city and municipal mayors while city and municipal mayors are expected to monitor compliance of barangays in the road-clearing efforts of the national government. (PNA)
