DPWH 2nd Leyte Engineering District sets to remove illegal structures

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September 28, 2012

CARIGARA, Leyte  –  The Department of Public Works and Highways Second Leyte Engineering District is set to demolish or remove at least 11,000 illegal structures along the road right of way limit of national highways.

DPWH 2nd LED District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia informed that this will be implemented to the fullest with the creation of a team that will reinforce the effort to keep road of way free from obstructions.

“The six-man team will solely focus on demolition of illegal structures. It seems that people just disregard our notices. We should not wait for erring residents to do the removal but we have to do it in a respectful manner,” DE Junia said.

Currently there is only one road right of way agent in the district, which is detrimental to their campaign to keep road sides free from encroachments such as houses, fence, posts, waiting shed, stores, among others.

“Even before the formation of a demolition team, we already started removing structures. In fact, we have pending 30 cases now at the Capoocan municipal court,’’ Junia said.

The demolition started at Barangay Pinamopoan and Barangay Lemon in Capoocan, Leyte, which are two areas along national roads with many encroachments.

“Many houses are very close to the pavement along this road section. We have removed 50 structures and some 80 that were just removed on the encroachers’ own initiatives,” Junia added.

Moreover, DE Junia informed that the 2nd LED just finalized the inventory last week following the installation of warning signs in every kilometer stretch of primary and secondary roads.