ILOILO – Reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Western Visayas urged local chief executives, reiterating the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
According to Regional Director Ariel Iglesia, the President repeated the order during a post-SONA meeting with the mayors and governors on July 23 at Manila Hotel.
“Personally narinig ng mga mayors ‘yan from the President,” Iglesia told Panay News.
The presidential order was meant to ease traffic congestion.
“Public roads are supposed to be used as roads. Hindi dapat ibigay sa ibang gamit like naging tindahan, terminal at kung anu-ano pa,” said Iglesia.
The President ordered DILG secretary Eduardo Año to be tough on local chief executives tolerating road obstructions.
“If there is a mayor or a governor or kung ano kang…sino kang demonyo ka, i-suspend mo, Sir Año. Give him time and if he cannot, if he is not up to it, then papahingahin mo na lang. Suspend mo na. Wala tayong magawa. They just keep on pleasing their own constituents because there is a constituent, a leader. Ganoon kayo, eh,” said Duterte.
According to Iglesia, while Metro Manila was in the mind of the President when he issued the order, the reclaiming of public roads should be carried out in other areas, too.
On July 10 Sen. Francis Tolentino filed a Senate bill seeking to grant Duterte emergency powers to address the traffic problem in the country.
Reclaim all public roads is one of several marching orders that local chief executives got from Duterte, including the enforcement of environmental laws, the continued crackdown on drug trafficking, liquor ban, and shortened processing of permits and clearances (at most three days only).
“I am directing you publicly, mayors. I am directing also DILG secretary Año to see to it that this is honored – all clearances and permits emanating from your offices must be out within three days,” said Duterte.
According to the President, corruption starts in the slow processing of transactions in local government units.
“I want three days, unless there is an exceptional reason, three days para hindi na magpabalik-balik kasi diyan ang perahan eh. Pagdating doon meron na naman hingin, pagdating doon may hingin,” said Duterte.
Duterte urged Filipinos to demand better service from local governments and resist corruption.
“Kayo rin kasi, sinasabi ko na sa inyo, be assertive. At ‘pag kayo o ikaw hiningian more than the required payment by government at humingi pa sa iyo, mag-eskandalo kayo sa opisina. Make a scene. Sampalin mo ‘yang p***** i** na ‘yan,” said the President.
When he was the mayor of Davao City, said Duterte, he was able to hasten the processing of permits and clearances.
“Hindi ako nagyayabang. In Davao, it’s one hour unless there is a need for ocular inspection,” he said./PN
