‘Clear roads or face suspension’

By: Dolly Yasa

“CLEAR public roads or face suspension.”

This was the stern of warning of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to mayors and governors in a meeting this week.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said he will strictly implement the President’s order on erring local chief executives.

“May mga kumikita dyan e, kaya dapat natin linisin at yan din ang nagko-cause ng traffic,” Año said in an exclusive interview with Daily Guardian at his office.

Año said some private individuals have converted public roads into their private properties.

“Ginagawang tindahan, ginagawang parkingan, minsan may mga tolda pang nilalagay. Ginagawang basketbolan, dapat malinis ang mga kalsada na yan. Dapat maisaayos natin yan para naman lumuwag ang trapiko.”

Año said the directive is aimed at mayors

“Maluwag naman yung mga provincial roads, it is really the municipal, city roads and barangay roads na ginagawa nilang private roads,” he added.

In his state of the nation address on July 22, Pres. Duterte directed Año to reclaim public roads that were used for private purposes and suspend mayors who cannot carry out the order.