NAGA CITY -- In a clear display of strong political will, obstructions put up by commercial banks, restaurants, malls and other establishments in this city’s busy business district were finally dismantled by elements of the Public Safety Office and the PNP in accordance with city ordinance.

        Ordinance No. 95-069, declares illegal the putting up of obstructions to line and grade setbacks for commercial and residential buildings in the urban district of Naga City and provides penalties therefore.

        PSO Executive Officer Lito del Rosario who personally led the clearing team said barricades of establishments owned by businessmen perceived to be close to City Hall were not spared from the campaign as the law applies to all.
Caption: ALL CLEAR. Elements of the Naga PNP and the Public Safety Office led by PSO executive officer Lito del Rosario (extreme left, lower photo) lead the dismantling of barricades put up by certain business establishments in downtown Naga for their clients’ exclusive parking. RANDY VILLAFLOR

        According to him, it is the policy of the city government of Naga as invoked in the general welfare clause to require buildings and/or establishments to provide a set back or reasonable space immediately fronting their building and abutting a road or street for the purpose of vehicle parking and other uses for the general public.

        The dismantling team in some instances used acethelyne to immediately remove the steel barricades installed by building owners that had restricted space meant for free parking, especially in CBD 1, or the centro.

        According to del Rosario, this bold move was an offshoot of the no-nonsense implementation of the “wheel-clamp” ordinance which the joint team of PSO and PNP personnel commenced implementing in July, 2007.

        Its purpose is to “free the main streets of Naga from illegally-parked vehicles,” Del Rosario stressed.

        Implementation of the wheel-clamp ordinance immediately earned overwhelming public approval especially that the busy Gen Luna, Elias Angeles and J. Hernandez streets were effectively rid of indiscriminate parking that had hampered the free flow of traffic.

        To this date, 460 vehicles, whose owners come from the various sectors of the community, including a judge, military officers and businessmen, had been clamped for straying on “No Parking” zones. The vehicles were freed or “unclamped” only after the owners paid the corresponding fines and were warned that henceforth they should strictly follow traffic laws and rules, or else…