 |
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.
Comments
Post a Comment