Clear roads, sidewalks, SB orders

In a bid to ease traffic congestion, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. ordered major thoroughfares and sidewalks in the city cleared of obstructions like signages and billboards.

Belmonte pointed to Tomas Morato and Timog avenues as areas where numerous signboards belonging to different business establishments block the roads and sidewalks. Both avenues are located within the city’s Fourth District.

"I want to see the sidewalks open and clear of obstructions," said Belmonte, who said the city is mapping out plans to make commercial areas in Quezon City roads obstruction free. This way, Belmonte said, the flow of traffic in the city will improve.

Under the plan, the city government’s business permits and licensing office will require all business establishment owners along Tomas Morato and Timog avenues to remove all signages and billboards on the roads.

The same plan will be implemented in all avenues and streets in the city.

Belmonte noted that Quezon City is located in the middle of Metro Manila and the traffic conditions in its major streets eventually affect the flow of traffic in neighboring localities like Caloocan City, Manila, Mandaluyong City and Pasig City.

Belmonte also ordered the clearing of Visayas Avenue of road obstructions from private automobile repair and car wash shops. – Cecille Suerte Felipe