Team probes Baguio, Benguet road-clearing

By Susan C. Aro

BAGUIO CITY -- The Benguet Validation Team led by the Dept. of Interior and Local Government assessed 11 city and barangay roads in Baguio City in line with the government’s road clearing operations being carried out by the local government units.
    Now on its second year of implementation, the DILG adapted cross-posting of validation teams to ensure the impartiality of the validation procedure.  With this scheme, the Benguet Validation team assessed the road clearing operations of the city local government while the Baguio City team validated   Benguet roads. The Benguet Validation Team assessed the compliance on the road clearing operations of the Baguio City local government along city and barangay roads. (SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet)
    The undertaking is in compliance with the DILG directive for the year-round clearing of roads and sidewalks from obstructions and illegal structures to ensure safe and convenient access to the public.   
     The team was led by Benguet DILG Provincial Director Rufina Fegcan with Teresa Mangangey, the focal person on road clearing. Other members included the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Information Agency.
    The team assessed 11 barangay roads but only considered 10 which is the maximum required,   and generally, the implementation of the road clearing operations of the city is good. There were isolated cases of illegally parked vehicles and obstructions along roadways and sidewalks noted.
    Considered as road obstructions are vehicular terminals except in areas designated by the LGUs; vending sites; house encroachments that obstruct the right-of-way; debris, waste materials, and other junked items, among others.  
    One tangible measure undertaken by the barangay and city officials which the team noted   is the sidewalk development and recovery which gives back to the public the use of walkways.  
     DILG City Director Evelyn Trinidad admitted that vehicle parking is a problem in the city due to the densely populated areas. This is coupled with the rolling terrain of the city such that structures within the built-up areas are maximized but with limited parking spaces.   
    Some of the barangays particularly in areas outside the central business district are addressing the parking space problem by designated parking areas along roadways backed up by local ordinances. The identified parking spaces in barangays are painted with demarcations. 
    Trinidad said Mayor Benjie Magalong is set to meet some 67 barangays with concerns on parking spaces as identified by the Baguio City Police Office and the City Engineering Office.  
    The Benguet Validation Team is still ongoing deliberations on the assessment of the local roads. (JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet)