THE Cagayan de Oro City Government launched on Tuesday, September 24, a massive clearing operation in public roads and highways in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to local government units (LGUs) to rid streets of illegal structures and obstructions within 60 days.
However, owners of illegal structures were notified ahead of the operation.
Mario Verner Monsanto, executive overseer of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD), said instead of the usual surprise operations, the city wants to inform the public for humanitarian considerations.
“Kung dili pud nato sila i-notify, kung modiritso lang ta ug pang-guba, basin unya magubot. Mas maayo they already know para sila mismo makuha na ang mga illegal structures,” Monsanto said.
The operation started in J.R. Borja Extension on Tuesday. But despite people already knowing the schedule, some structures were still present in sidewalks and streets.
The clearing team, composed of police and members from the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) and the City Legal Office, destroyed the illegal structures and informed residents of Duterte’s new directive.
On July 29, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular 2019-121 directing all governors, mayors, and punong barangays to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads, rid them of illegal structures and constructions, rehabilitate them by placing street names and street lights, and carry out strategies to address possible displacement issues.
DILG regional offices are also obliged to submit weekly compliance and progress reports to the Office of the DILG Secretary during the 60-day compliance period of the clearing operations.
The city will continue to conduct the clearing operations in different streets and highways in the coming days.