DPWH urged: Clear Kennon, other roads of illegal structures

BAGUIO CITY – The city council urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to remove all obstructions including structures built by squatters on road-right-of-ways of all national roads in this city.

  

The body asked the department to submit a list of structures along Kennon Road including buildings that are newly constructed or being constructed.

            

This came on the heels of the inquiry conducted by the body on squatter infestation on roads.

The inquiry attended by regional DPWH lawyer Maria Dionesia Guillermo and city department heads bared one cause of delayed action on the problem was redundant and unclear procedure on removing these obstructions.

           

Councilor Perlita Rondez said DPWH Department Order No. 52 series of 2003 mandates district engineers to “immediately remove or cause the removal of all obstructions and prohibited uses within road right-of-way of all national roads within their respective jurisdictions” and this should he enough basis for action from the department.

 Guillermo told the forum that the DPWH’s power in dealing with such concern is limited as per DO 52 prompting them to refer such reports or complaints to the city government.

            

The city government through the legal office acts on said concerns based on its established anti-squatting procedures which take time due to the required investigation process.

            

But Rondez said DO 52’s provision for district engineers to act on these structures is specific and clear.

Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia sought action on the mushrooming structures along Kennon Road starting with the conduct of a census of the illegal structures along the stretch.