JIPAPAD, Eastern Samar – The mayor of this town said that they have now reached 90 percent on the clearing operations involving public streets.
However, they have to finish their town fiesta first before they could demolish the remaining structures, town Mayor Benjamin Ver said.
According to Ver, these structures are located in the area leading to the town proper.
The town mayor said that the owners of these structures, mostly private houses, have asked the local government unit to allow them first to observe the town fiesta before they tear down their structures.
Jipapad, one of the remotest town in Eastern Samar, celebrates its annual fiesta every October 7.
Mayor Ver said that in view of the request of the house owners, they have asked the evaluators from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to give them grace period of at least 10 days due to this appeal of the owners.
The clearing operations being conducted by local government units across the country was in view of an order issued by President Rodrigo Duterte to clear all obstructions in public streets and roads during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) early this year.
LGUs were given 60 days to comply with the memorandum issued by the DILG which lapsed last Sept.30.
“We are already at 90 percent in clearing our roads within the town proper, our only problem is the more than 20 houses in the access road leading to the town,” Mayor Ver said.
“We asked the DILG evaluators to give us 10 days after the town fiesta celebration for the owners to demolish parts of their houses that obstructs the road,” he added.
Affected houses are all made of light materials and already marked by the local government.
“The owners volunteers to demolish portion of their houses encroaching the road. Our residents are cooperating because they see this program is implemented not only in our town but in the whole country,” Mayor Ver said.
Mayor Ver added that he is thankful for Pres. Duterte for issuing the order to clear the streets and roads from obstruction making it easier for local chief executives to implement.
“From that on, we will strictly implement that policy,” Ver said.
Personnel from the Municipal Local Government Operations Officers, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, barangay officials and employees of the LGU enforces the clearing operations. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
