Will barangay officials nab erring drivers?

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

THE Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) will tap the help of barangay officials to help apprehend who violate the “anti-illegal parking” policy in the city.

PSTMO head Jeck Conlu confirmed in a phone interview on Sunday that they will deputize the barangay captain, chairman of the peace and order, and the tanod (watchmen) chief in campaign against violators of the parking policy.

“Nakasugtan naton nga by Tuesday maga-recommend kita sa aton city mayor’s office nga i-deputize sang PSTMO through a possible executive order ang aton tatlo ka barangay officials, ang aton barangay captain, barangay chairman sa peace and order and chief tanod,” Conlu said.

For the longest time, Conlu said that one of the many challenges is the weak enforcement of barangay officials since they only give warnings and reprimand the violators.

“Isa sa challenge sang aton barangay officials kay wala sila ngipon mag-enforce asta lang sila sa saway kag hambal, amo na i-deputize naton sila sa pagdakop sang ga-illegal park sa ila area of responsibility,” he added.

The barangay officials who will be deputized will only be limited to the apprehension of violators of “illegal parking”, Conlu clarified.

“Ang pag-deputize sa ila ang pagdakop lang sang illegal parking and other violations indi na naton pag-allow,” he explained.

 

‘HAWAN KARSADA’ CONTINUES

Meanwhile, Operation “Hawan Karsada” (Road Clearing) of the PSTMO, Task Force Anti Squatting and Illegal Structures (ASIS), and Office of the Barangay Affairs will continue on Monday, August 12, 2019, in City Proper district.

The operation is in accordance with the order of President Rodrigo Duterte which was re-echoed by Mayor Jerry Treñas through an executive order to clear all national roads and highways from illegal obstructions.

Conlu said that the operation in City Proper district is in tandem with the barangay officials.

“While ga-conduct kami clearing sa main road sa city proper, sa ila barangay sa city proper area dapat ga-conduct man sila clearing sa ila area. Kun kinahanglan nila bulig makadto kami sa ila. Focus naton ang city proper because dira ang bulk sang salakyan nga gasulod sa city,” he said.

Since the operations started two weeks ago, the PSTMO head said most of the obstructions that they have cleared are mainly wood and concrete extensions of shops and carinderia, tricycles, pedicabs, and other non-moving vehicles in the streets.

“Damo na kita sikad and tricycle nga nakuha and non-moving vehicles nga sa karsada nga dugay na wala gaandar and may na-tow kita anom ka bilog sa Calahunan dumpsite,” he said.

According to Conlu, their first few operations have been successful because of the cooperation extended by the barangay officials and the volunteerism of the residents.

“Malaba na aton naagyan and damo na karsada aton hawanan. As per assessment, maayo kag naga-ugyon ang barangay officials kag pumuluyo. Aton na observe nga pwede gale nga kung tuod-tuodon sang aton barangay officials nga masunod sa mga layi kang karsada ang aton pumuluyo. Buot silingon basta may partnership ang mga gobyerno kag pumuluyo maayo gid ang resulta,” he said.

After the operations in City Proper district, Conlu said they will move to Mandurriao district on Wednesday then to Molo and Arevalo on Friday.