OFFICIALS of Barangay Sto. Niño in San Simon town have started demolishing structures encroaching public spaces as part of the full implementation of Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2019-121.
The DILG memorandum is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to clear all roads of public obstructions, including illegal structures, illegally parked vehicles and illegal vending, in a bid to reclaim public spaces.
Barangay Sto. Niño Chairman Dong Dagdag, Jr. said they started demolishing illegal structures along the stretch of Baliuag-San Simon National Road as early as August 10, a day after Mayor Abundio Punsalan, Jr. handed out the directive to barangay officials.
“We started with the houses and business establishments whose wooden or concrete fences were constructed outside of their supposed properties and have encroached the shoulder lane of the Baliuag-San Simon road which is considered a national road,” he said.
Aside from residential and business establishments, Dagdag said a portion of the barangay hall, its facade in particular, was also demolished after it was proven to have exceeded the supposed shoulder lane and sidewalk.
“When I learned that even our barangay hall is affected, I immediately advised my fellow barangay officials that we will be complying still to the directive even if it means demolishing our newly-reconstructed facade,” he said.
Dagdag expressed gratitude to his constituents for the cooperation to the road clearing activity as it was reportedly conducted without objections from affected house and business owners.
Meanwhile, he warned homeowners as well as motorists that the barangay will impose sanctions to those who will still be illegally constructing structures or park vehicles outside of their private property.
“We will be issuing a barangay ordinance that will prohibit any type of obstruction, including extended sari-sari stores or parked vehicles, to ensure that the road clearing operation will be sustained,” he said.
Punsalan, who assisted in the demolition of barangay hall, lauded the officials of Sto. Niño for their swift implementation of the memorandum and initiative to sustain the program.
Apart from Barangay Sto. Niño, Punsalan said other villages in San Simon town have also started their road clearing operations.
“I am personally overseeing their road clearing activities to ensure that San Simon will be able to comply with the directive of President Duterte especially that we only have a few days remaining before the deadline,” he said.