ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Iloilo City scores 83% in road clearing works

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

ILOILO City scored an 83% rating in its road clearing accomplishment as validated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Ma. Maredith Madayag of the DILG gave the rating after validating the city’s performance from September 30 to October 1, 2019, DILG Iloilo City Director Roy Defiño confirmed on Wednesday.

The rating is higher compared to the substantial passing rate of 70% set by DILG. But it is lower than the 95% to 100% accomplishment rate being claimed by Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Quoting Madayag, Defiño said, “There is room for improvement for Iloilo City.”

Madayag has cross-posted with Defiño to validate the accomplishment report of Iloilo City alongside the validating team composed of representatives of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), civil society organization.

DILG-6 Regional Director Ariel Iglesia explained in previous interviews that the LGUs will be validated based on the assessment tool developed by the department.

Among the indicators that were look at are the implemented laws and ordinances of the LGUs; inventory on the national, provincial, and city roads; road clearing operations; displacement plan of LGUs on the affected residents of the road clearing operations; rehabilitation of the cleared roads; and grievance mechanism.

 

HAPPY

Meanwhile, Love Joy Hosenilla, head of the Task Force Anti-Squatting and lllegal Structures (ASIS) who led the road clearing operations in the city alongside Public Safety and Transportation Management (PSTMO), said he is happy with the rating.

Despite the success of the road clearing operations in the metro which he previously claimed to be at 90%, Hosenilla emphasized that road clearing is just part of the parameters that were evaluated by DILG.

“Mayo kon 83%, ang aton road clearing successful man. May ara pa man kita other obstruction sa dalan nga mga salakyan, amo na nagbutong. May mga ordinances pa kita nga dapat i-amend,” he said.

He underscored the need to revisit the barangays of Tabuc Suba, Cubay Fatima, Montinola and Benedicto in Jaro district and several barangays in the City Proper and Arevalo district and Yulo Drive in Arevalo.

“Maskin tapos na ang deadline, sige-sigehon namon ang clearing,” he said.

Iglesia emphasized that the responsibility of LGUs goes beyond the deadline of the road clearing order.

“After the deadline, it doesn’t mean titigil na ang LGUs. This is a continuing responsibility to the local officials to maintain what has been cleared or it could be the cleared roads will be turned over to the barangay officials for maintenance,” he stressed.

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte gave a 60-day ultimatum to all local chief executives through DILG to reclaim all public roads being used for private purposes and to clear all the illegal structures and road obstructions.

The deadline officially ended on September 29, 2019.

The validation reports of the LGUs will then be forwarded to the central office of DILG which will recommend for the issuance of show-cause order or administrative sanctions to non-complying LGUs.