Imus starts road clearing operations
Published Aug 26, 2019 06:02 pm
By Anthony Giron
IMUS CITY, Cavite - Officials have started removing the obstructions on roads and sidewalks in this capital city.
Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi
( Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi led the action against obstructions last week at the Imus Public Market Road, along Aguinaldo Highway and other areas. The move was in compliance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government's 60-day ultimatum directive issued last July 29 for all local government units to clear their roads and sidewalks in their jurisdictions. Obstructions refer to illegal stalls or selling area of vendors and other structures on sidewalks and vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, jeepneys, buses, and tricycles that are parked on roads. With a truck and the task force personnel in tow, Maliksi supervised the removal of the structures that block the sidewalks and roads in the areas. The mayor was accompanied by City Engineer Christian Mervin S. Sarno, Planning Officer Rodel B. Pelaez, barangay officers, and security personnel. In an interview, Maliksi assured that the removal of structures and other obstructions would be done in the city 97 barangays (villages). "The barangay officials have also been directed to remove all the obstructions in their respective jurisdictions and make the monitoring from time to time," Maliksi told this reporter. Maliksi said that all barangay chairmen are also directed to render a report to the local Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on their accomplishments with regards to the obstructions. The mayor said he would conduct simultaneous inspections of the barangays on the progress of the drive every Thursday and Friday. "Every Thursday at Friday 'yan, titingnan namin ang progreso," he said. (Every Thursday and Friday, we will see the progress,) Meanwhile, the local DILG is keen on looking into the day-to-day collection called "butaw" for sidewalk vendors and drivers of tricycles and jeepneys. "Butaw" or fees collected by some individuals allegedly connected with the city hall allowed vendors to ply their merchandise on roads and sidewalks. The fees for sidewalk vendors and tricycle drivers passing the market are ticklish issues. Sidewalk vendors and tricycle drivers are allegedly being given tickets as receipts. Residents said they wanted to know if there were a financial report and name records with the fees being collected from sidewalk vendors and tricycle drivers. The collections reportedly have been going on for years. DILG-Imus Officer Divinamor Toledo De Pano, in a recent interview with this reporter, said that the issues about the fees collected from businesses or any illegal activities can be looked into by her office. "The investigation on any illegal activities can be made by the office and much better with a complaint," De Pano said. The DILG's directive was in consonance with President Duterte's order in his State-of-the-Nation Address (SoNA) "to remove all sorts of obstructions on roads and sidewalks." Complaints against erring individuals can be relayed to 8888, the Malacañang's Complaint and Action Center. Meanwhile, police have arrested on Thursday an elderly traffic enforcer after he was caught extorting money from drivers of mini-buses in Rosario, also in Cavite. Major Dhefry A. Punzalan, municipal police chief, identified the suspect as Abelardo Sanchez Nocon, 64, a Rosario Traffic Management Office (RTMO) enforcer. Nocon was nabbed by a police team after he was complained of demanding and collecting at least P10 from baby bus drivers in the area. Recovered from him were coins amounting to P180. The arrest of Nocon was made after the drivers and passengers have complained through texts at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Hotline "I-Report Mo Kay Tsip Oca."
Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi( Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi led the action against obstructions last week at the Imus Public Market Road, along Aguinaldo Highway and other areas. The move was in compliance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government's 60-day ultimatum directive issued last July 29 for all local government units to clear their roads and sidewalks in their jurisdictions. Obstructions refer to illegal stalls or selling area of vendors and other structures on sidewalks and vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, jeepneys, buses, and tricycles that are parked on roads. With a truck and the task force personnel in tow, Maliksi supervised the removal of the structures that block the sidewalks and roads in the areas. The mayor was accompanied by City Engineer Christian Mervin S. Sarno, Planning Officer Rodel B. Pelaez, barangay officers, and security personnel. In an interview, Maliksi assured that the removal of structures and other obstructions would be done in the city 97 barangays (villages). "The barangay officials have also been directed to remove all the obstructions in their respective jurisdictions and make the monitoring from time to time," Maliksi told this reporter. Maliksi said that all barangay chairmen are also directed to render a report to the local Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on their accomplishments with regards to the obstructions. The mayor said he would conduct simultaneous inspections of the barangays on the progress of the drive every Thursday and Friday. "Every Thursday at Friday 'yan, titingnan namin ang progreso," he said. (Every Thursday and Friday, we will see the progress,) Meanwhile, the local DILG is keen on looking into the day-to-day collection called "butaw" for sidewalk vendors and drivers of tricycles and jeepneys. "Butaw" or fees collected by some individuals allegedly connected with the city hall allowed vendors to ply their merchandise on roads and sidewalks. The fees for sidewalk vendors and tricycle drivers passing the market are ticklish issues. Sidewalk vendors and tricycle drivers are allegedly being given tickets as receipts. Residents said they wanted to know if there were a financial report and name records with the fees being collected from sidewalk vendors and tricycle drivers. The collections reportedly have been going on for years. DILG-Imus Officer Divinamor Toledo De Pano, in a recent interview with this reporter, said that the issues about the fees collected from businesses or any illegal activities can be looked into by her office. "The investigation on any illegal activities can be made by the office and much better with a complaint," De Pano said. The DILG's directive was in consonance with President Duterte's order in his State-of-the-Nation Address (SoNA) "to remove all sorts of obstructions on roads and sidewalks." Complaints against erring individuals can be relayed to 8888, the Malacañang's Complaint and Action Center. Meanwhile, police have arrested on Thursday an elderly traffic enforcer after he was caught extorting money from drivers of mini-buses in Rosario, also in Cavite. Major Dhefry A. Punzalan, municipal police chief, identified the suspect as Abelardo Sanchez Nocon, 64, a Rosario Traffic Management Office (RTMO) enforcer. Nocon was nabbed by a police team after he was complained of demanding and collecting at least P10 from baby bus drivers in the area. Recovered from him were coins amounting to P180. The arrest of Nocon was made after the drivers and passengers have complained through texts at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Hotline "I-Report Mo Kay Tsip Oca."