MABALACAT City Mayor Cris Garbo said Wednesday, February 19, that he has directed barangay chairmen in the city to continue their respective road clearing drive.
Garbo's statement came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local executives nationwide to clear road of obstructions within 75 days. This marks the second round of road clearing in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's order to reclaim public roads.
"We issued a memorandum to our barangay captain for their respective jurisdiction to continue with the clearing of main thoroughfares and barangay roads of obstructions," the mayor said.
Garbo has underscored the need to have clear roads for any eventuality like fire incidents where big fire trucks may enter and penetrate villages.
"These [obstructions] are hazardous especially this coming month is fire prevention month so that we can clear many roads and prevent its effects if there will be fires," he said.
He also stressed the importance of following the instructions of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.
"But what is important here is we are following the directive of DILG to continue the clearing of all our roads," Garbo said.
Mabalacat roads are now 70 percent cleared, according to the mayor.
"We are only at 70 percent and that is not enough, we were directed to accomplish 90 to 100 percent," Garbo said.
The DILG had filed cases against mayors who failed to implement road clearing projects in their respective areas.