Calamba to penalize violators of road obstruction ordinance

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna- The city government has stepped clearing operations of road obstructions and is bent on penalizing violators of obstructing city streets and road easements through an ordinance to be legislated by the City Council. City Administrator Allan Zacharias as presiding officer, during the joint meeting of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), announced on Thursday that the city’s Executive Department is creating a team to inspect all major roads and highways within the city against obstructions that pose danger to motorists and the riding public. Once identified, he said, the Executive Department will call the attention of the agencies, establishment owners and vehicle owners to clear the obstructions. He added that the executive department will request the legislative branch or the Snagguniang Panlungsod (City Council) to impose sanctions through an ordinance penalizing violators of road easements and those creating obstructions on roads and highways. The action of the joint councils was pursuant to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Memorandum Circular No. 2007-19 dated Nov. 2, 2017 that enjoins strict observance and enforcement of the easement standard on both sides of the roads. Road accident is one of the top causes of death and injuries in the country where the conditions of public roads and highways have greatly contributed to the growing number of fatalities and injuries in the streets, the Memorandum Circular stated. Meanwhile, City Councilor Saturnino Lajara, chairperson of the Committee on Peace and Order (POC) of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Legislative Council) commented that several potholes on the roads become instant catch basins of rain or run-off water and are left with no warning signs, thus posing dangers to motorists and travelers. Since the Legislative Council is on recess, the proposed ordinance will be acted upon once the City Council resumes in January 2018, Lajara said. (PNA)