CAGAYAN de Oro City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a clarifies no compensation will be accorded to those affected by the clearing operations in the locality.
Sabuga-a said people affected by the clearing operations are violators of President Rodrigo Duterte's directive and the memorandum of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for encroaching highways, roads, and sidewalks, among others.
He said the Government can only compensate residents whose property is affected by a government project. But residents encroaching sidewalks and national highways will not be paid since "these areas are not private property but are intended for public use."
Local government units were directed 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. In Cagayan de Oro, about 90 percent of the priority areas are already cleared.
"More or less 90 percent cleared na kay ang highways halos naman cleared na (more or less 90 percent of the areas are cleared, especially the highways)," Sabuga-a said.
Sabuga-a said that clearing roads of obstruction is, however, not new for the city as this was started in 2013 when Mayor Oscar Moreno assumed office and created "Hapsay Dalan."
The new directive from Duterte fast-tracks the work and encourages participation in the barangay level.
"Ang challenge diri ang sustainability, ang barangay ang mag-monitor. Now, kung naay mamalik ug tukod, we will summon the barangay and give explanation, then inform DILG.
Ang DILG na dayon ang bahala kon unsa action," he added. (The challenge here is sustainability. The different barangays will have to monitor [the areas]. Now, if vendors come back and rebuild their makeshifts, we will summon the respective officials of the barangays and ask them to explain before informing the DILG.
It is then up to the DILG what specific actions they will do.) The DILG said local chief executives may also be recommended for suspension to the president if no significant improvement is seen in their respective areas after the lapse of 60 days.