LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil appealed to his constituents from Barangay Tonton here who are affected by the ongoing road clearing operations to dismantle all illegal structures and cooperate with the national directive on road clearing and widening.
Bataoil held a dialogue to explain to the residents the content of Memorandum Circular 2020-145 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the clearing of roads of illegal structures and other obstructions.
He said the implementation of the clean-up is not an order coming from him but an order from the national government.
He also clarified the difference between road clearing and road widening. "I just want to clarify, road clearing and road widening are different. Road clearing is what the DILG does and implements, while road Widening is under the Department of Public Works and Highways," said Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Marilyn Dela Cruz.
Bataoil appealed to the affected residents to cooperate by removing objects, structures, or any other equipment that obstructed the road.
"Tulungan ninyo na lang kami. Kayo na ang boluntaryong mag-dismantle ng mga naipatayo ninyong mga istraktura. Kung may mga kailangan kayong ibang tulong mula sa amin (sa pamahalaan), huwag kayo mahihiyang magsabi at handa naming ibigay ito para sa inyo," the mayor said.
He also assured the affected residents that they will benefit from the provincial government's housing project as long as they meet the set criteria."Masakit para sa akin na paalisin kayo pero ayoko rin na tawagin kayong mga squatters kaya ako na ang nakikiusap sa inyo na sundin at gawin na lang natin ang utos ng national government," he said.