In compliance with Mayor Joy Belmonte’s directive, the head of the Quezon City Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management immediately buckled down to work in clearing major roads of any obstruction.
“Alinsunod sa mandato na ibinigay ni Mayor Joy Belmonte, we went immediately to work,” according to Ariel Inton, who was recently appointed Task Force head through Executive Order 9-2019 dated July 29, 2019 to lead the clearing operations dubbed as “Bayanihan sa Lansangan.
The “Bayanihan sa Lansangan” concept emerged from Belmonte’s desire to provide livelihood to those who are displaced by the city’s campaign to clear roads.
“Nag-ugat ito sa ating hangarin na bigyan ng pagkakakitaan at puwesto para magtinda ang mga tatamaan ng ating kampanya. Hindi natin sila puwedeng pabayaan na lang,” said Belmonte.
According to Inton, the Task Force, on the first week since its inception, focused on Mabuhay Lanes on the initial week of clearing operation.
“The first day was the whole of West Avenue, the second day is Del Monte up to Mayon Street. The third was the whole stretch of Mindanao Avenue until part of Congressional. The fourth is Congressional all the way to half of Luzon Avenue going to Katipunan corner Aurora Boulevard,” said Inton.
Next week, Inton said the Task Force will continue clearing operations on Mabuhay Lanes as mandated by President Duterte and the local government unit, “specifically on the 60-day period to at least on the minimum clear the whole of Mabuhay Lanes.”
Inton said barangays, in coordination with the Task Force, are doing their own clearing operations in their areas of jurisdiction.
In its first week of operation, the Task Force has impounded about 30 vehicles, which were caught illegally parked or abandoned on sidewalks and streets.
“In West Avenue, we impounded some vehicles which were abandoned for 10 months to one year,” Inton explained.
In her directive, Belmonte authorized the Task Force to focus on the regulation of tricycles and pedicabs; the orderliness and safety of all forms of public utility vehicle terminals including identified loading and unloading points and the management of vehicular traffic.
The task force will remain in place until a new body, the Quezon City Department of Traffic and Transport Management, is created and become fully operational as part of Belmonte’s 14-point Executive Agenda.### (Abby Malvar)
