No trike, pedicabs on highways

THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered a second wave of road-clearing operations following last year’s successful campaign.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the local governments are given 75 days to clear public roads of blockades or obstruction to ease the flow of

traffic and movement of people. Año also reminded all local governments and the police that tricycles and pedicabs should not operate on national highways. “Bilang bahagi ng ating road-clearing effort at pagpapaluwag ng kalsada, pinapaalala natin sa ating mga kababayan na bawal ang mga tricycle at pedicab sa national highway. Huwag na po tayong makulit at marami na din pong mga aksidente na nangyari bunga ng kapabayaan dito,” he said.

He said local government must create a plan to rationalize the routes of all tricycles.

“Tuloy ang Disiplina Muna campaign sa ating mga kalsada. I direct LGUS, especially the barangays, to clear local roads and sustain the gains of the road-clearing operations with the same urgency and enthusiasm as when the President himself directed us during the State of the National Address. Binibigyan ko kayo ng 75 calendar days para gawin ito. This will continue whether you like it or not, especially since it has produced favorable results for the people,” Año said.

‘DILG orders mayors to clear roads anew

“Now, we will not only validate the performance of the mayor, but also of the barangay captains. We recognize that the barangays have the No. 1 responsibility in keeping their roads obstruction-free so under Road Clearing 2.0 and we will also assess the performance of the barangays and file appropriate charges (if they fail) if necessary. Nagawa na natin ito noon, ngayon mga barangay naman. We will continue to keep an eye on the LGU and barangay compliance and will not hesitate to file a new batch of administrative cases sa mga pasaway na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nakakasunod,” he added.

In July last year, Año - upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte - issued Memorandum Circular 2019-121 which gave mayors 60 days “to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads which are being used for private ends, and in the process rid them of illegal structures and constructions.” (Mindanao Examiner)