MINALIN Mayor Edgar Flores is set to dispute the inclusion of the town on the list of local government units (LGUs) that failed to comply with the 90-day road clearing operations ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Based on the list issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) over the weekend, Minalin is among the 97 LGUs, and the only one in Pampanga and Central Luzon, that were given a "failed" mark.
Flores, also the president of Pampanga Mayors' League, said he is yet to receive a formal notice from the DILG on the matter, but is keen on contesting the negative evaluation.
"I already received the news but there was no formal communication yet. But should there be a formal communication from the DILG, I will definitely contest it," he said.
The mayor said the municipality has started reclaiming public roads and spaces in 2016, way before Duterte and the DILG ordered the nationwide road clearing operations.
"I was actually surprised to know the findings because I have long been a proponent and advocate of clear and clean roads and yet my town is given a failed mark," he said.
Flores said he will invite DILG officials to the town to personally see the actual situation in their area and hopefully reconsider their evaluation.