The interior department on Tuesday said it was considering replicating the example of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who has cleared several vital roads of illegal vendors in the capital since taking over last month.

President Rodrigo Duterte, during his annual report to the nation on Monday, ordered authorities to reclaim thoroughfares that are being used for private ends.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said his agency will create an inventory of roads used as tiangge and parking areas, like those in the Divisoria shopping district in Manila.

"Ini-clear ito ni Mayor Isko Moreno. Puwede naman palang i-clear. Ngayon, medyo maluwag na doon. Iyan ang mga titingnan natin," he told radio DZMM.

(This was cleared by Mayor Isko Moreno. It can be cleared after all. We are looking at that.)

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Año said he was also eyeing a deal to open certain roads of some private subdivisions during rush hour to ease traffic.

Reclaiming roads, he said, will be a "priority topic" when the Metro Manila Commission meets with mayors and city administrators on July 25, Thursday.

Newly elected governors and mayors are also set to meet with Duterte at the Manila Hotel onTuesday afternoon, said Año.

DZMM, July 23, 2019