DPWH: Poles, buildings banned from nat’l roads

All private and public structures built within the Road Right of Way (RROW) of the national government are illegal, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said last week.

DPWH-7 Regional Director Ador Canlas said Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson issued an order last July directing all engineering offices to remove and prohibit all structures within the RROW of national roads.

“We know that it’s very expensive to relocate. But the fact that they’ve been there for so long, without any payment to the government, I think we’ve given more than enough time for them to relocate,” Canlas said.

In last week’s press conference, Canlas said the presence of these structures like electric and telecommunication poles contribute to delays in the completion of their road-widening projects.

Compromise

He said his office had been sending letters to power, telecommunications and other utility companies to voluntarily remove their structures.

In some cases, Canlas said the DPWH usually allocates a space to utilities in the farthest portion of the government’s RROW.

But he said they only learn later that the structures, posts or lines are near the pavement already.
He said these structures compromise the integrity of their structure.

But Canlas said relocation can be done on a case-to-case basis if it become “highly improbable” and if there’s no more space for a utility company to acquire their own RROW.

Covered by Singson’s order are all buildings, houses, shanties, stores, shops, stalls, sheds, canopies, billboards, signages, advertisements, fences, walls, railings, basketball courts, barangay halls and garbage receptacles

Posts and towers and cables are also prohibited along with driveways, ramps, humps or vehicles and equipment parked or occupying the RROW. The order prohibits dumping and storing of materials, repair and other businesses within the sidewalks and other parts of the RROW.

“Should clearing operations for road widening; improvement and/or rehabilitation be conducted, no compensation will be paid and allowed on the removal of these obstructions,” the department order read.