Mayor Beng Climaco planned a relocation site for those whose livelihood have been affected by the road clearing operations as mandated by Pres. Duterte through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“We fully support Pres. Duterte’s order on road clearing, but when it comes to the interest of our people, I will stand to protect them,” Climaco declared on “Dateline Teleradyo” Tuesday.

She said the city government will find an area where those affected by the road clearing operations will be able to tend to their livelihood.

The mayor added that the city government will try to source out funds to give as livelihood capital to those affected by the road clearing operations.

The road clearing operations ended last last week with seven out of 97 barangays in the city failed to fully comply the directive. These are barangays Cabaluay, Dulian-Bunguiao, Kasanyangan, Landang Gua, Manalipa, Tagasilay and Zone IV.

This, after more than seven months of suspension, the DILG announced last October 2020 the resumption of the Road-Clearing Operation 2.0 (RCO 2.0), depending on the quarantine classification of the local government units (LGUs), giving 60 calendar days for local governments to comply with the Presidential directive.

RCO 2.0 officially commenced on November 16, 2020 and ended January 15, 2021 but extended to February, giving LGUs ample time to comply. However, despite the deadline, the DILG reminded the LGUs that RCO is a year-long endeavor.

All LGUs implementing RCO 2.0, according to Año, whether partial or full implementation, are expected to abide by the prescription of DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-027 released by the Department last February stipulating the policy on the continued implementation of the President’s order to clear roads of illegal obstructions. He also said that banning of motorized pedicabs and tricycles on national roads and highways must be implemented by the LGUs notwithstanding the rules and guidelines set by the Department of Transportation on the operation of tricycles during the community quarantine period.

DILG Validation of LGU compliance, just like in the previous implementation of RCO, will be exercised in the provincial, municipal, and city levels. LGUs that fail to comply with the presidential directive will face administrative charges from the DILG.-(Vic Larato)