DPWH urges MM gov’ts to rid roads of obstructions

Local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila were urged yesterday to keep national roads free of obstructions as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) pushed through with another round of clearing operations along one of Manila’s major thoroughfares.

DPWH-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Melvin Navarro stressed that while the agency tries to improve the national roads, LGUs should complement its efforts by maintaining rightful space for motorists and pedestrians along national roads and sidewalks.

In Manila, the DPWH conducted clearing operations along the newlywidened Road Radial 10 (R-10).

Navarro said recurrent road obstructions along R-10 vary from illegally-parked vehicles, vendors, and garbage to permanent and temporary structures.

“Note that while we are doing our best to improve and widen our national roads especially here in Metro Manila, we can’t maximize its use with persistent road encroachment that can be prevented if only people obey the sixmeter easement rule of road right-of-way (RROW),” said Navarro.

“This is why we call on the public, especially our LGUs to help us monitor and strictly enforce the law to ensure safety of our motorists and pedestrians,” he said.

The agency emphasized that provisions of Section 23 of Presidential Decree No. 178, the Revised Philippine Highway Act, prohibits the use of road right-of-way for temporary and permanent structures such as buildings, houses, shanties, stores, shops, stalls, sheds, canopies, and billboards.