During President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2019 State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22, he ordered the reclamation of all public roads that are being used by private entities, specifically to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Following those commands, the two agencies met with the Metro Manila Council (MMC) earlier today, July 25, to discuss the clearing operations that will soon take place around the nation’s capital. DILG undersecretary Epimaco Densing requested that all cities and municipalities under the MMC begin the operations by conducting an inventory and audit of their road networks to identify specific problem areas.
Densing also said that DILG secretary Eduardo Año is giving all concerned mayors a maximum of 60 days within the official issuance of the memorandum to complete the cleanup—and failure to do so will result in suspension.
“Para sa mga national roads at mga Mabuhay Lanes, ipagbabawal na ang parking at ilegal na istruktura saka isusunod ang mga side streets,” said MMDA chairman Danilo Lim. The agency’s general manager Jojo Garcia echoed Lim’s statements and added, “Napagkasunduan naming lahat ng Mabuhay Lanes at national roads ay dapat na mabawi at magamit ng publiko.”
The MMDA provided each concerned mayor a copy of the 17 Mabuhay Lane routes, and suggested the conversion of all open spaces into parking areas for motorists in the metro.
Let’s see how these plans are carried out in the coming months. For now, feel free to share in the comments section your opinion on the matter.
