The city government is reminding officials of the Summer Capital’s 128 barangays to sustain the implementation of the anti-road obstruction (ARO) measure within their areas of jurisdiction to help ease traffic along main roads.
The city government is reminding both residents and barangay officials to be consistent in their ARO operations considering the need to free all streets and passageways from obstructions in cases of emergencies.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong reminded there will be no letup in the implementation of laws including the anti-road obstruction measure.
The Baguio City Police Office-Traffic Enforcement Unit (BCPO-TEU) reported a total of 19,750 vehicles apprehended for road obstructions in 2023.
For the first two months of 2024, there were 540 ARO apprehensions for January and doubled to 1,095 in February.
BCPO-TEU Chief, Lt/Col Zacarias P. Dausen said keeping barangay roads free of obstruction will help ease the flow of traffic along main roads when barangay roads are used as alternate passageways.
He said temporary use of roads for parking is also not advisable since people tend to think parking along roads as a normal behavior.
In 2022, the mayor directed all barangay officials to submit ARO reports on a monthly basis to the City Engineering Office for monitoring purposes and appropriate action if necessary.
The directive is in line with Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular (MC) 2019-121 that enjoins all local officials to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads which are being used for private ends and in the process, rid them of illegal structures and constructions. – Jessa Mardy Samidan
May 4, 2024
