In response to the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to all Metro Manila mayors to clear all roads and sidewalks of obstructions in their respective areas, the Caloocan City government led by Mayor Oscar Malapitan started dismantling barangay halls in the city on Monday.
Accompanied by Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim and MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia, Malapitan and the operatives of Task Force Alis Sagabal smashed a barangay hall at Barangay 137, where the mayor resides in the city.
Malapitan created the task force undertake the dismantling of all establishments and edifices that are deemed obstructive and at times block the free flow of traffic around it.
“This only showed that we are just doing our job, following the order of President Duterte to bring back the sidewalks to the people, to whom it rightfully belongs,” the mayor said.
The MMDA officials lauded the mayor for implementing worthwhile programs for Caloocan.
“We can only appreciate the activities of Mayor Oca for the city of Caloocan. Even prior to the issuance of the memorandum order of the President to all LGUs in the metropolis, we know for a fact that Mayor Malapitan has been instituting a cleanliness program in Caloocan since he started as mayor in 2013,” Garcia said.
Lim said the city government under Malapitan is coordinating with the MMDA to help solve the never-ending traffic woes in Metro Manila and make Caloocan a progressive city.
During the duration of the clearing operations, Malapitan is asking for his constituents’ cooperation, “to unite with them and follow what is being dictated upon us” to avoid the delay of the operation.