Cebu City claims success in road clearing

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government has claimed success in its road clearing operation in hot spot areas like Colon Street, some parts of the North Reclamation Area, Osmeña Boulevard and Cebu South Bus Terminal.

The road clearing operations conducted by the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) Team is ongoing.

This is a compliance with the Memorandum Circular 2020-145 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to strengthen the campaign of clearing public roads of any encroachments and illegal obstructions.

According to PROBE head Raquel Arce, aside from 500 to 600 vendors, they have properly ejected the “barong-barong” in sidewalks.

“Dili man puros vendors ang atong na-clear, ang uban kay kadtong gihimo og istaranan ang mga sidewalk, gihimong kusina, ug gihimong kaligoanan,” Arce said.

The PROBE still monitors these areas so that individuals would not come back.

Arce praised the people who cooperated in the campaign of the national government particularly the barangays which play key roles in the road clearing.

The Cebu City Transportation Office earlier said the clearing of the streets will pave the way for a smooth transport especially for emergency vehicles.

The office has advised the public to secure their parking spaces first before buying vehicles.

Even if the city is still under modified general community quarantine, the CCTO remains in full force to control the traffic as more vehicles are expected to ply the streets after the quarantine status had been downgraded.

Last November 16, 2020, the DILG ordered local government units to resume the road clearing operations in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.

It is one of the government’s efforts of COVID-19 response and recovery interventions under Republic Act 11494, or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which comprises for the regulation of traffic on all roads, streets and bridges and removal of encroachments and illegal constructions in public areas.

It will make the streets smooth and free from hazardous encroachment and to effectively secure social distancing measures. — GMR (FREEMAN)