Presidential Directive To Clear Roads of Illegal Obstructions: A Briefer
Presidential Directive To Clear Roads of Illegal Obstructions: A Briefer
Presidential Directive To Clear Roads of Illegal Obstructions: A Briefer
Background
During the 2019 State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
enjoined all local officials to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads
which are being used for private ends and in the process rid them of illegal structures
and constructions.
1. Enact or review existing ordinance/s that provide for the conduct of road clearing
operations and the prohibition of road obstructing structures and constructions,
which shall provide, among others: a definition of obstructions and illegal
structures, mechanisms for raising public awareness on road clearing, and set of
clear and reasonable penalties for violators;
5. Ensure that the cleared roads are rehabilitated and restored for public use,
through efforts such as cleaning and flushing, installation of street lights, erection
of appropriate signage, setting of appropriate speed limit, and the like; and
Governors
Shall ensure the compliance of City and Municipal Mayors in their respective
provinces. They shall ensure that provincial issuances and ordinances are in
harmony with the Presidential directive, spearhead clearing operations in all
provincial roads, and interface with the Mayors to discuss the implementation of
the directive and formulation of strategies for the improved and continuous
conduct of road clearing operations in the LGUs.
Mayors
Monitor the implementation of the directive at the barangay level. They are
likewise enjoined to craft strategies to ensure the compliance and cooperation of
the Punong Barangays, which may include the turnover of the maintenance of
cleared roads to the barangay government.
Punong Barangays
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of other local roads turned over by the city or municipal government. They shall
also harmonize barangay ordinances with the Presidential directive, collaborate
and coordinate with the Mayor in regards to road clearing, and undertake
information dissemination campaigns in their respective barangays.
1. Road clearing shall mean the removal of illegal or unauthorized road obstructions
along the road right-of-way, which encompasses the entire width of the road
carriageway (including travelway for motor vehicles and road shoulders) and
sidewalk. The widening of the scope of the existing road right-of-way and
activities undertaken for such purpose are beyond the scope of this directive;
2. Road obstructions are structures, materials, or activities within the road right-of-
way that impede the free and clear passage of motor vehicles or pedestrians
and/or pose danger or cause injury to motorists, pedestrians, or occupants of
nearby structures. These include, but are not limited to:
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4. In case wherein structures or facilities owned by utility service providers, such as
posts, meters, instrumentation boxes, and the like, cause obstruction to the road
right-of-way, due coordination shall be made by the concerned utility company
and the local government unit to remove or relocate the obstructing structure or
facility. It must also be ensured that such relocation, and the conduct of road
clearing operations in general, shall not cause disruption to the delivery of utility
and other basic services. Similarly in cases wherein materials, equipment, and
structures temporarily obstruct the road right-of-way due to the undertaking of a
project by a national government agency, the LGU may coordinate with the
concerned agency to relocate the obstructions or agree on a timetable for its
removal;
5. To assist in their inventory, local government units may refer to the following road
classification implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways in
identifying national primary, national secondary, national tertiary, provincial, city,
municipal, and barangay roads;
6. Local government units may coordinate with the Department of Public Works and
Highways or the Metro Manila Development Authority in conducting road clearing
operations in national roads or any other roads under the direct management and
maintenance of these national government agencies. Likewise, LGUs may
coordinate with and request assistance from the Philippine National Police and
the Bureau of Fire Protection in ensuring security and order during the conduct of
road clearing operations.
Important Points:
- Note that the DILG directive is road clearing and not road widening
- Road clearing is reclaiming our roads from private gain back to public use
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