BESAO, Mountain Province – The fourteen barangays of this fifth-class municipality started submitting to the local government their accomplishments reports on the mandated clearing of roads and sidewalks from obstructions to pave the way for the use of the same by the public among other purposes.
Last August 16, 2019, Mayor Johnson Bantog II issued a directive to all barangay captains in the municipality to immediately initiate road clearing operations within their areas of jurisdiction to clear public roads of obstructions and open the same for public use and that the chieftains were given a maximum of 10 days to complete their clearing activities.
Further, the punong barangays were required by the local chief executive to render periodic reports to the municipal government through Engr. Joseph Dayog, the municipal focal person on road clearing operations, wherein their reports must contain the status of their clearing operations and efforts to sustain the same.
During the Orientation on the Functionality of Barangay Development Councils conducted by the municipal assessment team (MAT) on August 26, 2019 attended by the barangay captains and secretaries, MLGOO Ray B. Fiar-od followed up from the barangay chief executives the status of their actions and efforts regarding the clearing of roads.
Based on the submitted reports, some barangay officials personally visited their affected constituents furnishing them copies of the mayor’s order. Some individuals responded positively but their corresponding actions have yet to be followed through. Meanwhile, Hon. Victor Songaben, the barangay captain of Kin-iway, offered to his constituents some identified parking spaces. This initiative however is yet to be appreciated by some residents of the “capital” barangay. There are still a handful residents who are nonchalant.
While the barangay and municipal roads have been cleared of obstructions, concerned sectors in the municipality disclosed that provincial road remains to be a permanent host to motor vehicles and construction materials. Yet, the presidential directive is bold and clear; barangay captains who do not comply with the order will be held administratively liable. The DILG repeatedly reminds mayors to hold barangay captains accountable for road obstructions. Ergo, barangay captains should not tolerate their erring constituents. On the other hand, the cooperation and support of each citizen is solicited. In short, maid kuma en mang susukil.
Mayor Bantog expressed optimism that barangay officials will be able to sustain the all-out campaign against road obstructions so that the municipality will be able to set an example that despite being a fifth-class municipality, it can accomplish significant gains on the nationwide campaign against obstructions for the benefit of the welfare of the public.
In his 4th State of the Nation Address delivered before Congress last July 22, 2019, President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered all local chief executives to clear all public roads and sidewalks from obstructions within 60 days and issued a stern warning that for those who will not be able to do so will be immediately suspended by the Department of the Interior and Local government (DILG)..
Bantog urged his constituents to understand the fact that the road clearing operations will be to the benefit of the greater majority of the populace and not for anyone else.
By HENT
