Skip to main content

DPWH, DILG, LGUs intensify road-clearing operation

By

 
Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon in an exit conference with the DILG and the PNP regarding the road clearing operation in Laoag. (Doms dela Cruz)



By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter

Laoag City—In line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive during his fourth State of the Nation Address and in compliance with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Department Order 73 series of 2014, the DPWH-Ilocos Norte Engineering District (INED) I has intensified the clearing operation on the removal of obstructions along national road.

INED-I district engineer Maria Venus Torio announced that her district has started removing 35 permanent structures for the months of August and September.

The 35 reported structures cleared or removed are part of the 2,594 permanent structures inventoried intended for clearing operation as of July 31, 2019.

Of the 1.35 percent permanent structures cleared, there were also reported 284 temporary structures removed for the months of August and September.

“Napansin natin medyo maliit pa iyong natatanggal nating permanent structures pero most of these 2,594 obstructions were served for second and third notices. Parang ang liit lang ng aming accomplishment pero malaki na rin yun kasi iyong 35 permanent structures ay hindi po ganun kadaling magtanggal,” Ms. Torio explained.

She added that permanent structures are buildings, establishments and houses; while temporary structures are those ambulant vendors, signages and others that are considered obstruction on the 20-meter width of the national road.

She stressed that her office is presently preparing a right of way plan to permanent structures “para i-account namin iyong mga matatamaan na mga permanent obstructions”. 

She also disclosed that the basis for computation of permanent structures are based on the assessment coming from the city assessor’s office for Laoag and the provincial assessor’s office for the municipalities on the price of lot and structures affected.

DPWH needs LGU help
Meanwhile, Ms. Torio said the clearing operation is in compliance with the DPWH Department Order 73 series of 2014 on the removal of obstructions along national road.

“Dahil kapag kailangan na namin iyong 20 meters intended right of way on the national road, nakiki-negotiate din kami doon sa mga owners at alam din naming na wala kaming police powers kaya natutuwa din kami na tumutulong na iyong mga LGUs sa pagpapaalis ng mga obstructions along the national roads,” she pointed out.  

DPWH-INED II district engineer Mathias Malenab, for his part also announced that road clearing operations in Ilocos Norte’s second district are progressing in the municipalities of Badoc, San Nicolas, Dingras and Paoay including the city of Batac.

Mr. Malenab said Pinili did their own road clearing operation wherein they only requested the list of obstructions.

Most of the obstructions that were removed, Mr. Malenab said, were tents, waiting sheds, tables for mobile vendors and parking areas.

During the clearing implementation, Mr. Malenab admitted that there was also resistance from owners, however, the reason for the removal was clearly explained to them.

Mr. Malenab also announced that the DPWH has started marking the delineated 10 meters road right of way from the center line.

All affected residential areas which will be affected in this road widening will be notified for road obstruction.

“Ket no addan to project mi idiayen ket masapul a maikkat da and not yet in the near future ta awan pay met project,” Mr. Malenab added. 

Relative to this, Laoag DILG officer Janet Duarte said her office also received DILG Memorandum Circular No 2019-121 regarding the president’s directive on clearing of roads like illegal structures and constructions.

The memorandum states that all local officials are enjoined to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads which are being used for private ends and in the process, rid them of illegal structures and constructions.

Local chief executives are also directed to revoke permits that give authority to private entities to occupy public roads, alleys and other thoroughfares.

Local sanggunians are also enjoined to revisit ordinances and other similar legislative measures to ensure responsiveness to the presidential directive and its consistency with related laws and policies. 

Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua said they are also strictly intensifying and implementing the DILG memorandum circular.

Mr. Chua appealed to the public who will be affected to comply with the president’s directive with the help of Batac’s barangay officials concerned on those affected residential areas.

Mr. Chua also said that plant boxes, fences, waiting sheds and other temporary structures are the most affected while he has yet to receive reports of permanent structures that are affected.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By
By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...
9 comments
Read more

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

By
 Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said.    Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel...
Post a Comment
Read more

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

By
BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy.   18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi...
Post a Comment
Read more