Mayor calls out 25 barangays that failed in road clearing

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he already called the attention of the 25 barangays that the initial road-clearing validation of the city government.

“Pinatawag ko na sila tanan sa akon chief of staff para maghulag sila, kag ubrahon nila. They have been saying na ubrahon nila ang dapat nila ubrahon,” Treñas said on Thursday.

The city government has been monitoring all barangays in the metro in their road clearing efforts following the second round of clearing ordered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The validation team headed by DILG-Iloilo City indicated that 25 villages in the city failed to meet the 70% passing mark set by the national office.

According to DILG Director Roy Defiño, the barangays have complied with the road clearing operations but mostly failed on implementing existing ordinances and regulations that provide for the prohibition of road obstructions.

“They have to remember that aside from the actual road clearing operations, the guidelines also include enacting existing road ordinances,” he said.

DILG has issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-027 on Monday mandating LGUs to clear the roads of illegal obstructions for a period of 75 days.

Under the memorandum, LGUs should enact or review existing ordinances that provide for the conduct of road clearing operations and the prohibition of road obstructing structures and constructions.

LGUs are also required to identify obstructions and illegal structures, create mechanism for raising public awareness on road clearing and a set of clear and reasonable penalties for violators.

The memo also orders the inventory of roads within its jurisdiction which shall include road classification, determination of road measurements, and identification and documentation of obstructed road and natures.

Meanwhile, Treñas said he is will meet with the barangay officials again next week together with the City DILG and Public Safety and Management Office (PSTMO) to discuss the road clearing order.

“Kon ano ang kinahanglan nila as I have always said ari di ang siyudad para magbulig sa ila,” he said.

The mayor said the 25 barangays already gave their commitment to comply with the road clearing mandate.