EDITORIAL - Now sustain the campaign

Ready or not, pass your papers… or else local government executives must explain why they failed to clear major thoroughfares of obstructions within two months.

Yesterday was the deadline for the 60-day road clearing operations, which the Department of the Interior and Local Government ordered upon instructions of President Duterte. The move was apparently inspired by clearing operations conducted by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno in the most congested streets in his city’s commercial districts shortly after he won the May elections. If the streets and sidewalks of Divisoria, Quiapo and Sta. Cruz could be cleared of obstructions, why not in the rest of the country?

Moreno’s equally remarkable achievement is that the clearing has been holding so far, although two months is still too short to test the resolve of the city government. Sustaining such campaigns has always been the greater challenge, with local government policies changing if a new mayor comes in. This time, it has helped that the national government has backed local campaigns.

Some local government units such as Marikina have in fact successfully carried out such clearing operations many years before Moreno launched his campaign. Periodic sweeps, efficient law enforcement and the provision of social safety nets for the poor who were affected ensured that the campaign in Marikina was sustained. With the DILG directive, the city managed to fully comply within just 17 days.

While circumstances vary in each city or municipality, there are success stories that can serve as models for returning the streets to vehicular traffic and sidewalks to pedestrians – and sustaining the measures. Strong and sustained support from the national government also helps ensure the success of the campaign. As the deadline lapses for the clearing operations, local executives can share best practices to ensure the sustainability of the effort.