At the halfway point to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) deadline to clear roads of obstructions, the agency adjudged the operation to be running smoothly.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that he is satisfied with the performance of the local chief executives in the National Capital Region in following President Duterte’s directive to clear public roads in 60 days. However, Año said that the they are expecting a sustainable effort in improving traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
Año said that Marikina, Pasay, Navotas, Malabon, Valenzuela, San Juan, and Pateros have reported that 100 percent of the cities’ roads have been cleared of obstructions.
“We will validate the reports of these LGUs,” he said.
The DILG said that Metro Manila leads the list of the LGUs complying with Duterte’s order followed by Cagayan Valley with 77.5 percent, Central Luzon with 62.3 percent, Central Visayas with 58.3 percent, Calabarzon with 53.5 percent, and Western Visayas with 52.6 percent.
The DILG reported that a total of 139,959 meters of roads and 52,831 meters of sidewalks in Metro Manila have been cleared of obstructions and illegal structures while the series of operations resulted in the removal of 1,444 illegal vendors, 49 terminals, 1,292 illegally parked vehicles and 813 other obstructions. – With Emmanuel Tupas/STAR
