AFTER major roads and sidewalks in Cebu City have been cleared, the next challenge of the City Government is to sustain its efforts and make sure the thoroughfares remain free of any obstruction.
This is what the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III wants Mayor Edgardo Labella to do after seeing the City’s progress on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019.
“Once the public roads will be recovered, it’s part of the criteria how the mayor will rehabilitate the sidewalks and make a sustainable program to make sure the sidewalks are maintained,” said Densing.
During their inspection of Cebu City’s sidewalks on Monday afternoon, Densing said he was amazed by the results of the City’s clearing operations.
The sidewalks that used to be occupied by ambulant vendors are now free of any obstruction.
Densing commended Labella for relocating the sidewalk vendors.
“I am impressed by how the mayor was able to handle them. He was able to transfer them to a more convenient place where they can earn a decent living without causing obstruction on the sidewalks and to the public. So far, so good,” he said.
Labella and other city officials joined Densing during the inspection.
For his first stop, Densing had requested to visit Osmeña Blvd. and Colon St. as he wanted to see for himself if the area had been cleared.
“Since I was a kid, being a Cebuano myself, I had witnessed the ambulant vendors here. So when I arrived, I requested to see the place,” he said.
The DILG undersecretary cannot give an assessment yet as it is the duty of the city validation team to make an assessment report, which will be submitted to the Bureau of Local Government Supervision on Oct. 5.
The validation team, which is composed of representatives of the DILG, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, civil society groups and non-government organizations, will monitor the sidewalks for the next two to three days from the date of inspection before it can make a substantial report.
The final validation is on Oct. 4.
The local chief executive who fails to comply with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte will face disciplinary action such as suspension.
In a separate interview, Labella assured he will maintain the order on the sidewalks and main thoroughfares.
One way to sustain it is to provide a relocation site for the vendors where they have ample space to display their wares, said Labella.
He reiterated that his governance is one that has “political will tempered with compassion and mercy.”
“I have to create a balance. I cannot allow that the pedestrian lanes will be blocked, but I have to see to it that these vendors will be given ample livelihood opportunities,” the mayor said.
On July 29, 2019, days after Duterte’s State of the Nation Address, the DILG issued a memorandum directing all the local chief executives to clear and reclaim all public roads from obstructions within 60 days.
The deadline was Sunday, Sept. 29, but the nationwide inspection was conducted Monday. In Mandaue City, Densing observed that majority of the roads are already cleared of obstructions. He noticed, however, that there are roads, particularly UN Ave., where there are still sidewalk vendors.
Densing said he appreciates the efforts of Mandaue City officials in recovering public roads, especially B. Ceniza St. beside the new public market.
Before the clearing, only one lane of B. Ceniza St. was passable. The street now has three lanes.
“If the local chief executives and the barangay officials will really have the political will to do what they are mandated to do under the law, they can accomplish it,” Densing said.
For her part, DILG Mandaue City Director Jhoaden Lucero assured that the City will clear the remaining roads and sidewalks that continue to be impassable.
The Mandaue City Legal Office claims that of the 51 city roads and national roads in Mandaue, only 36 are 100 percent cleared. (JJL, KFD)