DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's creation of a task group to remove the illegal structures on roads and drainage systems earned the praise of an official from the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).
"This Executive Order (EO) 2, is a good one because this problem (of illegal structures) were long overdue and was not given enough attention by the local government,” CPDO Plans and Program Division Chief Froilan Rigor, said in an interview with VoxPop Davao Monday, February 5.
As stated under EO 2, Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio will chair the task force while the head of the City Engineer’s Office will function as vice chairman.
The Regional and District Engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways, City Transport and Traffic Management Office, City Planning and Development Office, Davao City Water District General Manager, Philippine Long Distance Telephone and the Davao Light and Power Corporation will be part of the task force.
Aside from eviction of occupants from dangerous areas such as esteros, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, waterways and other public places like sidewalks and roads, the city mayor also ordered the demolition of their illegal structures.
EO 2 has also mandated task force members to periodically clean existing drainage lines, monitor drainage project implementation, submit lists of drainage projects implemented, and recommend solutions to problems relating to floods.
Rigor said there are also illegal structures on sidewalks that are converted to parking areas especially in Maa area, McArthur Highway, and the circumferential road.
The other common illegal structures are stalls and vehicle repair shops, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road instead of the sidewalk, especially in secondary roads.