DILG sets new road clearing deadline

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has given local government units (LGUs) an ultimate deadline of March 2 to finish road clearing operations.

“The department is fully cognizant of the urgency for LGUs to prepare their vaccination plans against COVID-19 that’s why the road clearing timeline is extended anew. This is, however, the last extension to be granted,” DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.

The DILG said crafting of a local vaccination plan, which should include a masterlist of eligible vaccine population, identification of possible vaccine centers and cold chain storages as well as other logistical requirements, should be a priority of LGUs.

It is the second time that the deadline to finish road clearing operations was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The validation of LGU compliance was initially set on Feb. 16.

LGUs under general community quarantine are expected to comply with the partial implementation of road-clearing operations. A DILG validation team will select three to 10 roads and assess whether road obstructions still exist along the selected roads.