Joy Belmonte orders barangay execs: Keep streets clean

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte ordered barangay officials to keep the streets clean even after the 60-day deadline of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to clear public roads of obstructions ended yesterday.

Belmonte said barangay leaders should sustain the successful road clearing operations in the city.

“As leaders of our city, it is our responsibility to keep the streets clean and safe. From the mayor down to the barangay officials, working together is crucial to achieve this goal,” she said.

Belmonte noted the important role of barangay officials in keeping roads cleared of obstructions.

She will officially delegate the duty of sustaining road clearing operations to barangay officials today.

The mayor warned barangay executives of sanctions, including preventive suspension, if they fail to maintain public order in their jurisdictions. 

Belmonte also asked the residents to cooperate in keeping Quezon City’s roads cleared of obstructions by reporting unusual activities to Hotline 122. 

The local chief executive announced on Friday that the city completed the road clearing operations two days before the deadline set by the DILG.

The DILG will validate the progress of local government units (LGUs) in complying with the directive to clear public roads of obstructions such as vendors, transport terminals and illegaly parked vehicles.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año gave the LGUs five days to submit their accomplishment reports.

 “We will grade the LGUs if they accomplished the mission and from there we will take appropriate actions,” he said.

Año said local chief executives who would fail to comply with the directive will face charges of negligence and disregarding an instruction from the President.

DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said no show cause orders would be issued in the coming days as they would assess first the reports to be submitted by the LGUs. – Emmanuel Tupas