Pili receives 97.47% road clearing grade
By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay
THE Pili local government unit (LGU) led by Mayor Tomas P. Bongalonta Jr., has received one of the highest compliance ratings on road clearing on the resumption of Road-Clearing Operations 2.0 (RCO 2.) project of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DENR).
The town got a compliance grade of 97.47 percent from the DILG after it has successfully removed road obstructions, enacted enabling ordinances, conducted roads inventories, including crafting and implementation of displacement and rehabilitation plans, among others.
Bongalonta attributed the LGU’s success in road clearing to the personnel of the Inter-Office Committee on Road Clearing, which was created through Memorandum Order No.012, series of 2021 issued Jan. 21.
He also thanked the people of Pili for their cooperation and compliance to the guidelines.
The committee, headed by municipal engineer Vicente Ordas ensured that the road clearing guidelines issued by the DILG were strictly observed.
It conducted weekly inspection of all road sections of Pili, prepared show- cause order to non-compliant punong barangays, and initiated innovations for the efficient and effective implementation of the program.
While it was not easy for the LGU to implement the road clearing guidelines, Bongalonta coordinated with various government and private agencies, offices and organizations to ensure that the program is carried out based on the guidelines set by DILG.


ROAD CLEARING. Members of the Pili road clearing team help each other in the relocation of telecom wires as part of the town’s clearing operations. (Photo credits: MIO Pili)
The combined efforts and cooperation by the LGU and the barangays has led to remarkable reduction of illegally parked vehicle and resulted to smooth traffic in the town’s main thoroughfares.According the Pili road clearing task force, the job was not easy as the town is traversed by three arterial road systems, namely: the Pan-Philippine Highway or Maharlika Highway, Pili Diversion Road and the Gov. Jose T. Fuentebella National Highway.
In an interview with the Engr. Ding Abad, head of the Municipal Engineer’s Office, he said that they identified first the number of illegally parked vehicles, number of illegal vendors , illegal terminals, barangay structures and outposts, shanties of house encroachments, garbage dumps, rice drying stations, even trees which could be the reasons for the heavy flow of traffic in the town’s main business areas, before plotting a blueprint for the road clearing including rehabilitation efforts.
Rehabilitation plan
A rehabilitation plan was also crafted with the objective to regulate the use of public roads, streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, parks, and other public places within the territorial jurisdiction of Pili.
Activities include area clearing, installation of streetlights, installation of street signage, repair of cleared encroachments, issuances of turnovers to the barangays, upgrading of various roads, reblocking/ reconstruction of municipal or urban roads, sidewalk / drainage line construction, and relocation of affected households, among others.
The task force, under the supervision of Bongalonta, also created a displacement plan and came up with displacement strategies for removed obstruction.
A Resettlement Action Plan was developed for displaced informal shelters affected by road clearing operations and a livelihood action plan for those economically displaced. Displaced vendors were also accommodated in areas selected by the committee ensuring that the livelihood is not affected.
Permanent structures which were noted during the previous validations were already removed and demolished even before the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine in March last year. Affected families were also given financial assistance.
The LGU also implemented all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities, while ensuring that property rights of the owners are not violated, traffic and pedestrians are safe.
Bongalonta extended his gratitude to all the personnel who made the road clearing plan a success.
These personnel belong to the: Municipal Coordinating Team; Public Safety Office; Peace and Order Affairs Office; Road Clearing Taskforce; Economic Enterprise Office; General Services Office; Mdrrmo Pili-Rescue; Municipal Engineering Office; MENRO; Municipal Information Office; and the DILG for their continued guidance. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)
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