By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario/Philippine News Agency
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here will now strictly enforce the removal of obstructions and prohibited uses within the right-of-way along national roads in Central Luzon.
DPWH Regional Director Roseller A. Tolentino on Wednesday issued a directive to district engineers in the region to immediately coordinate with their respective local government units (LGUs) for the implementation of the order to ensure the safety of pedestrians and the general public.
This is in response to the memorandum issued by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut dated July 29, 2019.
Yabut, in his memorandum, urged DPWH officials to “do our part in this undertaking in terms of our role/responsibility as defined in DO 73, Series of 2014 through tie-ups and in coordination with the LGUs and other offices with police powers to jointly enforce and implement clearing up operations.”
The move is in line with the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22 directing local officials to clear all obstructions in public roads to provide free-flowing traffic for motorists.
Tolentino said it is now the appropriate time to jointly implement the undertaking as LGUs were given 45 days to clear sidewalks of obstructions and illegal structures.
“This is the right time to address concerns on right- of- way encroachment issues that often cause conflict in the implementation of widening projects on national roads,” he added.
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