MANILA, Philippines — Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan on Monday led the demolition of a barangay hall.
A report from The STAR said two barangay halls were cleared in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City with the assistance of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority officials. Malapitan particularly led and oversaw the clearing operations of Barangay 137's barangay hall at General Malvar Street.
The said barangay hall bore the mayor’s name as well as his son’s, Rep. Dale “Along” Malapitan. It was not clear whether the demolished barangay hall was built under his administration.
Oscar is now in his third term as Caloocan City mayor.
He followed the move of first-time local chief executives Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto who also oversaw the clearing operations in their respective jurisdictions.
The clearing operations were part of the directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to clear public roads of obstructions within 60 days.
The DILG’s order came after President Rodrigo Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address directed the DILG, MMDA and mayors to “reclaim public roads used for private ends.”
In his second SONA in 2017, Duterte also made a similar order.
“I am directing the MMDA and the LGUs of Metro Manila, as well as the LGUs of Metro Cebu and of all our regional centers, to ensure the free flow of traffic, and immediately clear our roads and thoroughfares of all unnecessary obstruction, including vehicles parked on the streets and barriers [applause] [not] sanctioned by the government, and penalize all traffic obstructionists regardless of stature,” Duterte said in July 2017.
This was how the barangay hall looked in 2016 and 2017.