By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be required to submit weekly reports on the status of the directive by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año to have all public roads cleared of illegal structures and constructions.
DILG provincial director, Atty. Ferdinand Panes, said they will submit their first report on Friday.
“We expect our mayors and governor to have already started implementation,” he stated.
Año issued Memorandum Circular 2019-121 towards the end of last month for “governors, city and municipal mayors and punong barangays, head of councils, DILG regional directors, [and the] BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) regional governor” to comply by the directive, which was initially made by President Rodrigo Duterte during his most recent State of the Nation Address.
“The order is consistent with existing laws,” the provincial official added. ?Some local officials in other areas have already started complying.”
Panes added, “Anything that [obstructs] the flow of traffic is subject for demolition.”
“I would like to remind our mayors to abide by the order of the secretary based on pronouncement of the president; there will be sanctions for non-compliance,” he noted. “There will be regular reports from our field offices to ensure compliance, which will be sent to the national office.”/DGB, WDJ