Abalos

Abalos to LGUs: Clean up roads, Mabuhay Lanes

July 9, 2022 Joel dela Torre 345 views

Drop lead: ‘Cleared’ roads to ease traffic

WITH face-to-face (F2F) classes likely to start in October, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. has urged local government units (LGUs) to start “removing” obstructions in alternate routes and major roads to help ease traffic.

According to Abalos, traffic is expected to get heavier comes October, when schools will be opened for the F2F scheme.

“You could just imagine the volume of vehicles that will really traverse the main thoroughfares of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue). We will give support to MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) at of course dito sa ating mga kasamang LGUs,” he said.

The new DILG chief also called on local officials to include “Mabuhay Lanes” in the clean-up works as he requested the new Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs to monitor these lanes and impose sanctions on “stubborn” and non-complying officials.

Abalos has yet to identify his new Usec that will handle barangay affairs, but a statement from Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles indicated that there is already a new DILG official.

Cruz-Angeles has quoted Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez that Barangay Capt. Felicito “Chito” Valmocina of Bgy. Holy Spirit has been “picked” to head the DILG Barangay Affairs office.

Citing Valmocina for his “lengthy experience as village leader”, Rodriguez gave a hint and said that Abalos “would ensure that all barangay officials nationwide will undergo capacity-building training”.

DILG directory shows that Jonathan Malaya and Mario Inringan are the only undersecretaries at present.

As of the moment, Abalos maintained that the “true solution” to ease traffic congestion is “mass transport” pointing to the Light Railway Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transit (MRT), bus carousel system, and even the subway.

“So, habang ginagawa pa yung subway, habang pini-prepare pa yung mass transport, what you have right now is of course manufacturing of cars,” he added.

Abalos noted the rise in the number of vehicles on the major thoroughfares and side streets every year with no “volume reduction program” as of the moment.

“So face with that dilemma talagang kailangan magtulungan ang lahat para talagang masugpo itong traffic,” the new DILG head said.

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