DPWH Ilocos Sur 2nd District Engineering Office in Candon City, Ilocos Sur held a coordination meeting with the barangay officials and affected individuals whose properties encroached the 20-meter Road Right-of-Way of the Manila North Road along barangays Poblacion Norte, Baliw Laud, Maynganay Sur, Maynganay Norte, Sumagui and Laslasong West last May 22, 2019 at Sta. Maria Municipal Hall, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur for the implementation of Network Development/Road Widening (Primary Roads) along Manila North Road K0369+000-K0371+460, K0371+781-K0372+190.
The meeting was presided by Assistant District Engineer Renato G. Gagno together with Engineer Mario P. Bravo, and Mr. Alejandro dela Cuadra from the Planning and Design Section of this office. Attorney Dan Estioko from the Legal Division of DPWH Regional Office, San Fernando City, La Union also attended the said meeting to present the legal aspect of work and answer queries under this undertaking in removing these properties which encroached the Manila North Road of the said town.
The removal of obstructions on the Road Right-of Way along the Manila North Road is in accordance with DPWH Department Order No. 73, series 2014, stating among others to “immediately remove or cause the removal of all obstructions and prohibited uses within the right-of-way (ROW) of all national roads within their respective jurisdictions and henceforth prohibit the presence/occurrence of structures, objects and such other similar items and activities along our national roads as well as strictly disallow the building, erection, construction, planting, and fabrication of the same”.
This is also in connection to the provisions of Section 23 of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 17 also known as the Revised Philippine Highway Act, as amended, “unlawful for any person to usurp any portion of a right-of-way, to convert any part of any public highway, bridge, wharf or trail to its own private use or to obstruct the same in any manner”.
DPWH Ilocos Sur 2nd DEO is spearheaded by District Engineer Jose G. Ginete Jr.