MM mayors given 45 days to clear roads
To address the horrible traffic situation in Metro Manila, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has given all mayors in Metro Manila 45 days to reclaim public roads from illegal vendors and illegally parked vehicles as it warned local officials that they could be suspended for defying the order.
DILG Undersecretary for operations Epimaco Densing said the agency will issue a memorandum circular (MC) next week, directing all the Metro Manila
mayors to submit their road network, road audit and their plans to clear the streets.
He said another MC on road clearing will be issued to cover cities and towns in other regions.
Should the mayors fail to address the problem, Densing said the DILG will conduct an investigation to determine if the mayors are guilty of committing gross negligence of duty or dereliction of duty and eventually recommend their suspension.
He said that vice mayors would automatically replace the suspended mayors, and the same procedure will apply to suspended vice mayors who will not comply with the DILG’s order.
“This is in coordination with the local chief executives, it’s important that they do this immediately because this is really an order from the President and we really just have to comply,” Densing told reporters. There were earlier reports that 60 days are needed to clear the major roads in their towns and cities but the officials later agreed to reduce it to 45 days.
“(Interior Secretary Eduardo) Año believes it can be done faster as evidenced by the Manila experience,” Densing added.
Aside from the mayors, Densing said the DILG might also tap the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other uniformed personnel to ensure that the roads will be cleared of all forms of obstructions.
He said that the MC will take effect immediately after its publication, or effectively by September and the 45-day period for the mayors to do their clearing operations will commence.
The DILG’s memorandum circular came after Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday where he ordered the mayors to come up with traffic reduction measures, and after the meeting with them at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday.
Densing was present during yesterday’s meeting of mayors who belong to the Metro Manila Council (MMC) at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) office in Makati City.
Under the DILG’s circular, Densing said it is not only the mayors who will be suspended, but also the barangay officials should they fail to clear the roads of all obstructions.
For Metro Manila where traffic is horrible, Densing said the DILG will designate one undersecretary or assistant secretary to monitor and coordinate with the mayors “for the implementation or the decongestion programs of the streets and sidewalks.”