Marikina feted as champion of ‘Disiplina Muna’ campaign

MODEL LGU. Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro receives the Seal of Excellence in Governance award from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año for successfully sustaining the obstruction-free status of Marikina roads and sidewalks on Nov. 22, 2019. Marikina was also hailed by the DILG as the champion of the Disiplina Muna campaign. (Photo by Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)

MANILA — The city government of Marikina has received the Seal of Excellence in Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for sustaining the obstruction-free status of roads and sidewalks.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año personally handed the award to Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro during the grand launching of the “Disiplina Muna” campaign and the Safe Philippines Project at the Marikina Hotel and Convention Center last Friday.

In his speech, Año lauded the city as he recalled how it evolved into becoming an orderly and model city.

“I witnessed the evolution of Marikina during 1960s, 1970s until now. As you can see the city of Marikina we call it model city in our country. Sa katunayan dito mismo sa Marikina, masaya akong ibahagi na nangunguna kayo sa pagtataguyod ng maayos at maluwag na lansangan (In fact in Marikina, I am happy to share that you are leading the way of obstruction-free status of roads and sidewalks),” Año said.

He added that the city serves as a model to other cities and municipalities for its numerous road-clearing initiatives and consistent enforcement of ordinances, as well as for instilling the culture of discipline to its residents.

“Gusto kong bigyan ng commendation ang Marikina, sapagkat bago pa man magsimula ang ating road clearing operations nangunguna na ang Marikina sapagkat nagsimula na sila noon pa man ( I would like to give to give commendation the Marikina, because even before start of road clearing operations, the city has been started clearing their roads,),” Año said.

Among the measures implemented by the city to sustain its obstruction-free throughfares was the “No garage, No Building Permit Ordinance of 2019” which requires business owners to provide proof-of-parking space before they could obtain a permit from the local government.

The city also mandated the removal of gates of subdivisions to give motorists alternate routes.

“Consistent and fair implementation of these ordinances is key,” Teodoro said in his speech.

Teodoro said President Duterte’s order to reclaim roads and sidewalks being used for personal gain of some people was a right move because roads and sidewalks are public domain.

“This is our contribution to national development that we can boldly and proudly say that Marikina’s main roads and thoroughfares are hassle-and hazard-free. The most challenging part, however, is sustaining the sidewalks and roads, making sure that they are always clean and walkable,” Teodoro said.

Because of the city’s commendable efforts, Teodoro was included in the line-up of ambassadors of the “Disiplina Muna” campaign.

The “Disiplina Muna” campaign of the DILG, the offshoot of the successful implementation of the road clearing operations in the country, seeks to revive and promote the culture of discipline as a bridge toward real change.

It aims to revive and uplift the culture of discipline and to put into practice the real concept of governance where citizens are encouraged to help achieve national growth.

DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the national campaign wanted to achieve what Marikina has attained, which is considered as the “gold standard”.

“Tuwing ini-interview kami ni Secretary Año lagi naming sinasabi na ang Marikina ang gold standard sa Disiplina Muna campaign ng pamahalaan (In every interview along with the Secretary, we always say that Marikina is the Gold Standard of the Discipline First campaign of the government). What Marikina City aspired to be is what Disiplina Muna program wants to achieve,” he said.

Teodoro said they had been instilling in the minds of residents that cleanliness and order must always be observed for everyone’s benefit.

Marikina was the first city in Metro Manila to comply with the DILG’s directive to clear all public roads of obstructions ahead of its 60–day deadline.

The city government received the highest score of “high-compliance” for its road clearing operations, and for maintaining that all city roads are obstruction-free.