The performance of the Bacolod City government in the second wave of road clearing operations has “improved,” according to the Negros Occidental Validation Team headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
This was reported by the Validation Team, headed by DILG- OIC Provincial Director Roselyn Quintana of DILG Negros Occidental, during the feedbacking and presentation of results with Mayor Evelio Leonardia and other officials at the Bacolod City Government Center Wednesday [Feb. 24].
Upon learning of the results of the validation, Leonardia said, “This is welcome news. It means our inspection and enforcement units did a good job, and the affected residents generally cooperated. We should all be united for the good of the greatest number.”
For his part, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran thanked the Validation Team and all who were part of the road clearing operations.
The Validation Team handed to Leonardia a report on Bacolod’s Compliance Assessment and Validation on the Implementation of DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-027 Wednesday, a day after the team finished their validation.
The team had evaluated Bacolod’s compliance with the second wave of road clearing operations, also called “RCO 2.0,” from November 16, 2020 to February 15, 2021. The DILG had directed all LGUs in the country to comply with the presidential directive to resume the clearing of roads of illegal structures and obstructions.
The first wave was conducted in 2019 from August to September, where Bacolod scored 87 percent.
The Validation Team assessed mostly the city roads which traverse areas in the three major public markets (Burgos Market, Central Market, and Libertad Market), and roads along Estefania, Rizal, Gatuslao, and Aguinaldo Streets – as these are the more crowded areas of the city.
Other members of the Validation Team are Vicente Albert Aaron Andaya and Jun Christian Guardialao, both of DILG- Negros Occidental, Senior Fire Officer I Julius Jovia of Bureau of Fire Protection, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) deputy public information officer Police Lieutenant Wilma Silva, and Civil Service Organization representative Crispin Chua.
Aside from the vice mayor, joining the mayor in meeting with the Validation Team were Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Edward Joseph Cuansing, Executive Assistant Butch Soliguen, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) head Lt. Col. Luisito Acebuche, Engr. Ephraem Hechanova of the City Engineer’s Office, Atty. Mikhail Reuben Sabig of the City Legal Office, Dante Medecielo, head of the Enforcement Team of the City Legal Office, Liga ng mga Barangay chief of staff Vember Ray Buenafe, and May Theresa Malongayan and Bessy Jean Dellomos of DILG-Bacolod.
Below are the standard indicators which DILG uses to tabulate its scoring system:
ORDINANCE –Ordinance on clearing of roads and banning of illegal obstructions—(15 points)
INVENTORY –List of provincial, city, and barangay roads with obstructions—(5 points)
ROAD CLEARING – (50 points)
DISPLACEMENT – The LGU has a displacement plan, program, or strategy for those affected by the clearing operations – (10 points)
REHABILITATION—Cleared roads, sidewalks, and areas have been restored for public use—(15 points)
GRIEVANCE MECHANISM –The LGU has a grievance and feedback mechanism regarding the clearing of road obstructions, and complaints are dealt with expeditiously—(5 points)
It can be recalled that the DILG Central Office had issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-145 giving all LGUs 60 days, from November 16, 2020 until January 15, 2021, to comply with the presidential directive to resume the clearing of roads of illegal structures and obstructions.
However, the January 15 deadline was extended to February 15 to give LGUs more time to prepare for the arrival and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines./WDJ