INTRODUCTION

President Rodrigo Duterte issued a directive to the public officials thru

Department of Interior and Local Government during his fourth State of the Nation
Address (Sona) to exercise their full authority to get rid of illegal structures and
constructions, particularly along public roads and streets which are mostly used as
“extensions” of make-shift sari-sari stores and similar enterprises. President Duterte
said to Sec. Año; reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends in an
apparent bid to ease traffic congestion in the Philippines. The Department of Interior
and Local Government released a memorandum to all Local Government Officials to
exercise their power to clear all roads of illegal structures and construction. They are
also to cause rehabilitation of all recovered public roads by placing street names and
street lights, among others. For the local chief executive they are hereby directed to
revoke permits that give authority to private entities to occupy public roads, alleys
and other thoroughfares. Prudence must also be observed in placing street signs
and signage to avoid exacerbating problems on obstruction. To implement this
memorandum, there is a lot of problem encountered by the Local Officials and I’ll
discuss it later on.

REACTION

Clearing the road and sidewalks of obstructions to help mitigate our daily
traffic is as much effective as actually directing and managing traffic in intersections
and should be treated with the same level of importance. It can help to lessen the
traffic jam along the major roads. The roads should be for the vehicles as sidewalks
should be for pedestrian and not for private use.

The local government of BARMM is currently implementing the memorandum

circular number 2019-121 thru the help of Department of Public Works and
highways. They measured it from the centerline of the existing road up to 15 meters
for the National highway, 7.5 meters for the Provincial road, 6 meters for Municipal
road and 5 meters for the barangay road. They put red marks to the affected
facilities, residence and structures. The residences are now clearing their own
affected areas in fear of losing some part of their materials. They can use it to their
new house to be built.
In some of these combined obstruction-clearing operations, it was discovered
that various concrete structures invade the sidewalk and even the road. These
include a newly built gated house, sari-sari stores, and business establishments that
occupy the whole sidewalk and even a Barangay Hall within the sidewalk.
 However, this on-going clearing operation affects many lives especially the
one who resides along the highway. Especially to those who don’t have space left at
the back. The only solution for them was relocation, but not all can afford that. The
lower class especially those who had to make a living plying their trade in the
sidewalk and the streets, were not blissful as they lost their means of livelihood. The
city mayors promised relocation sites and temporary financial support to those who
had no alternative livelihood, but not to the middle-class merchants who were
extending their premises to the sidewalks and to the streets. The wealthier of those
directly affected will just adjust or relocate their business areas and do business as
usual. On the other hand, the savings in terms of fuel expenses, faster commuting
time and better productivity of the workers may be significant and more than offset
the loss of livelihood and temporary financial support to the directly affected indigent
vendors.

There could be more social costs involved in these clear and clean operations
of the cities. Aside from the loss of livelihood, there will be dislocation of people and
families; this could lead to children being away from schools or worse being dropped
out especially to those families who resides along the highway and who have make a
living plying their trade in the sidewalk and street.

According to Ms. Balcita, one of the affected residences of Esteros; the

government is not liable for the lost of their shelter because we were told that there is
such a law for road right of way which I research in the internet. It is the Presidential
Decree (PD 17) also known as the Revised Philippine Highway Act that prohibits the
use of road right-of-way for temporary and permanent structures such as buildings,
houses, stores and billboards under penalty of fine, imprisonment or both. She said
that we can’t do about it because it was said a long time ago that we are not allowed
to use the public roads especially the sidewalk for a private purpose.

This road clearing is for the wellness of the majority. It may destroy our house
and source of income but the benefits are more profitable. Our means of transporting
our perishable goods are much easier and will speed up. It will also lessen the traffic
jam we are experiencing right now. We can go home early from work or school. We
can spend more time to our family. We may encounter several problems but it is up
to our local officials to address this problem.
CONCLUSION

This directive from President Duterte comes with many advantages and
disadvantages. This road-clearing will ease the traffic jam we are experiencing. Our
way of transporting goods are much easier and will speed up. It will minimize our
tardiness in our work. But it has a big impact especially to the affected lower-class
resident. Their means of livelihood were gone. The dislocation of people could lead
to their children’s being away from school. So, I conclude that this road clearing
program has a good and bad effects to the community.

CITATION/REFERENCES

 Memorandum Circular 2019-121

 Philippine Star
 Brigada News FM
 Google
 Presidential Decree (PD 17)
 Mayor Cynthia Guiani in Action
 TV Patrol Central Mindanao

PA 205
 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY
AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

REACTION PAPER

Submitted by:

MALIEHA A. KUSAIN

Submitted to:

PROF. FAUSIA R. ABDULLAH