THE compliance rate of most municipalities and cities in Davao Region in clearing sidewalks reached 85 percent, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office revealed.
According to DILG-Davao Director Alex Roldan, the compliance rate was based on the compliance assessment and validation report submitted by some local government units (LGUs) in the region.
But Roldan said that some LGUs have yet to submit their reports to DILG.
LGUs are only given until Friday, October 11, to submit their reports.
Roldan admitted that not all cities and municipalities can comply with the 100-percent cleared sidewalks, especially those areas with huge land area like Davao City.
Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office head Dionisio Abude said they only cleared 19 out of 41 identified roads in the city of obstructions, with a compliance rate of 46.34 percent.
"Ang problema diria sa Davao City, tungod sa kadako sa siyudad, exhausted kaayo atong operation (The problem with Davao City is that, because of its huge coverage, our operation is exhausted)," Roldan told Sunstar Davao on Monday, October 7.
He added the lack of manpower is a burden, considering traffic officials and other concerned agencies had to personally talk to affected business establishments and street vendors to vacate their items that are obstructing the sidewalks.
He said it is too early to tell if all those who submitted their reports had completely cleared all their sidewalks.
"Lisod gyud totally i-achieve ning 100 percent compliance rate sa tibuok region. Since naa'y mga municipalities ug cities na dagko'g sakop. Pero ang importante ani kay adunay ginahimo ang matag LGU (It's hard to achieve a 100 percent compliance rate since there are municipalities and cities with a wider coverage. What's important is that the LGUs are doing their mandate)," Roldan said.
He said another problem the LGUs encountered are the removal of concrete structures, which takes time.
"Ang ato problema diria is aduna gyu'y complication sa pag-implement since aduna'y mga concrete structures (Our problem is we have complication in its implementation since our problem will be the concrete structures). Who will demolish it? Will it be from the cost of the business establishments or the LGU?" Roldan said.
He, meanwhile, said some roads in the region were already passable, including major thoroughfares.
The DILG issued Memorandum Circular 2019-121 last July 22, which gave LGUs a 60-day ultimatum to clear the roads in their respective areas.
The ultimatum lapsed last September 29, but Secretary Eduardo Año said the mandate still continues since it is part of the LGU's responsibility.
Roldan, meanwhile, said the mandate was just "a refresher" to all LGUs.
He also said there is a need to clear the sidewalks for it is intended for pedestrians, not for vehicles or any obstructing items.
"You're endangering the lives of the pedestrians. That is why we need to clear these sidewalks because they are one of the root causes of traffic. We are just trying to equalize sa status of the public," Roldan added.