Prohibited use of road right-of-way up for discussion

The Committees on Public Order & Safety and on Public Works respectively chaired by Councilors Romeo V. Calizo and Edgar S. Cabanlas will conduct a joint meeting on November 13, Wednesday, next week to discuss a national directive from Department of Public Works and Highways, urging all regional and district engineering offices to enforce Department Order 72, s. 24, which mandates the removal of all obstructions and prohibited uses within the road right-of-way (ROW) of all national roads.

Under the said DO, temporary and permanent structures, such as buildings, houses, stalls, canopies, billboards, fences, or driveways occupying to the sidewalk will be cleared.

Activities along national roads like dumping of construction materials, earth spoils, waste, as well as parking of vehicles and vending within the sidewalk and other parts of the ROW will not be allowed also.

In his letter to Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy, Engr. Jan Paulo Lisondra, district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways-CDO 2nd District Engineering Office, emphasized the need for a close coordination among the city and barangay officials and the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) for strict compliance and implementation of the said order.

Invited to the meeting are City Administrator Atty Roy Hilario Raagas, City Legal Officer Atty Kenneth Tamala, RTA Officer-in-Charge Engr. Nonito Oclarit, City Building Official Engr. Maria Rosanna Rodriguez, and City Engineer Joel Momongan.

Also requested to appear before the committee are City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engr. Armen Cuenca, Liga ng mga Barangay President Councilor Yan Lam Lim, City Police Director Salvador Radam, and Cagayan Electric Power & Light Company President and CEO Ms. Chiquita Capili.