The Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety demolished the guard house of a private subdivision in Katipunan Avenue in Barangay San Bartolome which was reportedly collecting fees from motorists and delivery trucks passing through.

The guard house owned by California Village situated along Katipunan Avenue, a mabuhay lane, was considered a road obstruction. In addition, the village guard house collects fees from motorists especially delivery trucks, from 50 pesos up to 200 pesos per day.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang operation natin sa mga illegal na guard house kahit pa sa private subdivisions. Makikita naman na obstruction ang mga ito at hindi dapat pinagbabayad ang mga motorista para lang makadaan sa mga pampublikong kalsada,” DPOS head Elmo San Diego said.

DPOS also demolished another guard house from California Village while the Sierra Vista Subdivision homeowners demolished two of their own guard houses, also along Katipunan Avenue.

Moreover, three guard houses-cum-toll booths in Kingspoint Subdivision and two from Goodwill Subdivision were also demolished to clear the roads.

Mayor Joy Belmonte called on village homeowners associations to refrain from collecting fees from motorists especially on public roads.

“We do not tolerate private subdivisions that take advantage of our motorists just because they have to pass their gates. Mabuhay lanes are public roads and no one should pay any amount to access these roads,” the mayor said.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. We must refrain from obstructing public roads to give way not just for motorized vehicles but also to alternative transportation users and pedestrians,” she added.

DPOS will continue to clear all road obstructions upon the directives of the city mayor to provide safer roads to motorists, cyclists, and sidewalks to pedestrians.

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