Mabalacat mayor vows to clear roads

MABALACAT City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo has vowed to clear national and interior roads from "encroachments."

This is in adherence to the directive of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año for local government units to clear national highways of illegal obstructions.

President Rodrigo Duterte, during his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), directed local officials in the entire country to give the public roads back to the people.

"We need to clear the roads. This is the directive of the President after the Sona... with the executive, governors, city mayors, municipal mayors at the Manila Hotel. Ang para sa tao, ibigay sa tao," Garbo said.

He said putting up shanties or temporary shelters along the roads is also prohibited. "We will give them time of up to 15 days to remove the illegal structures."

Garbo warned that if the illegal structures (which cause traffic congestion and other problems) are not removed within 15 days, the City Government will demolish them.

"We have no choice, because this is a directive from the President," he said.

He said he will suffer the consequences if he fails to implement the directive of Duterte and Año.

"Año was a military man. There is no second chance; it is a one-strike policy," he said.

Garbo earlier ordered the strict enforcement of curfew for minors as part of the peace and order program of the local government.

"By August 1, there will be strict implementation of our curfew, those who are below 18 years old. We already informed all the barangay captains. So by 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., your children should not roam around if they are not accompanied by their parents," he said.

Garbo said minors caught within the curfew period will be apprehended and taken to the barangay halls or police stations.

Teenagers who repeatedly violate the curfew rule will be penalized based on the ordinance passed by the City Council, he added.

Aside from the curfew, Gardo said the City Government will also enforce another ordinance prohibiting establishments around schools from selling cigarettes and liquors to students.

He also warned massage parlors offering extra or sexual services to their clients.

The mayor also mentioned entertainment establishments and individuals playing loud karaoke or sing-along music.

"They should be properly regulated and I am directing right now the city administrator and also the BPLO to please check massage parlors and karaoke bars," Garbo said.

Playing loud speakers is only up to 10 p.m. as a respect to other residents, the mayor said.

"Karaoke, even if you are inside your residences, it is only up to 10 p.m. It doesn't mean that that is your private place, but you are affecting your neighbors. That is not right," Garbo said.

He urged his constituents to inform their respective families and relatives regarding the regulations in order to avoid trouble. "What is important here is that they abide by the law," Garbo said.

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