Metro Manila Mayors to Meet 60-Day Target for Clearing Ops

The 60-day deadline of the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) to clear public roads of obstructions will be met, the metro Manila mayors assured.

During the 25th Metro Manila Council meeting, mayors shared their intensified clearing operation efforts, following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora reported that 80 percent of roads have been cleared with the suspension of the existing ordinances pertaining to street parking and implementation of no parking on main roads and one side parking at night time only.

He said the local government is now identifying idle lands which can be converted to parking infrastructures.

Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez cited relentless clearing operations are still ongoing, particularly in the vendor-infested Baclaran.

"In partnership with Pasay City government, we are holding dialogues with business establishments to accommodate 2,000 vendors that sell their goods on the roads. We want an ultimate solution for the problem," said Olivarez.

Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano cited that major thoroughfares have been cleared while 75 percent of the barangay roads have yet to be cleared, also in coordination with Paranaque City government.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said 50 to 60 percent of national and secondary roads have been cleared while tertiary roads are still being cleared. He cited that vendors that keep on returning to the streets remain to be a problem.

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said the city would be compliant with the deadline with intensified clearing operations.

Taguig City Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz Jr. cited that majority of the national roads have been cleared of obstructions.

Makati City Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo cited that the local government has been clearing the city prior to the directive of President Duterte. She said they are monitoring the compliance of barangay captains to the directive.

Las Pinas City Vice Mayor April Aguilar reported that 90 percent of the major thoroughfares in the city have been cleared but the local government continues to clear areas.

For Quezon City, an official representing the city said 142 barangays have been cooperative in the clearing operations. He cited that majority of the Mabuhay lanes have been cleared.

In the remaining days of the deadline, the local government is looking at pure enforcement of the traffic laws concerning illegal parking and obstructions.

Jimmy Isidro of Mandaluyong City cited that 100 percent of the major roads have been cleared.

Cesar Chavez of the Manila City government said 90 percent of the Mabuhay Lanes have been cleared and will be turned over to barangay officials.

For Malabon, as far as the clearing of major roads is concerned, all have been cleared. However, official representing the city said they have yet to clear the secondary and tertiary roads in the remaining 30 days of the deadline.

For Caloocan, an official representing the city claimed that 100 percent of the major roads have been cleared. A concern in their city is barangay halls operating closed circuit televisions located at dead end streets.

An official representing Muntinlupa cited that 100 percent of the major roads have been cleared while continuous clearing operations are still ongoing at barangay roads.

An official representing Pateros said 98 percent of the roads have been cleared.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim said he is impressed with the performance of the local chief executives.

"Clearing operations have been successful with the Metro Manila mayors leading the campaign. We can see that there is progress. Our Metro Manila mayors are doing their part but big challenge is maintenance and sustenance," said Lim, citing that maintenance of the cleared roads is the harder part of operation.

Lim said barangays officials are responsible in ensuring that roads are cleared of obstructions.

:We asked the barangays captains to do their part in ensuring that cleared roads are free from obstructions. We are warning barangay officials who refused to cooperate may face charges," he added..

The 60-day deadline begun on July 29 after the DILG mandated all local executives to clear the streets of obstructions.