TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The Tacloban City Sub-District Engineering Office (TCSEDEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) office here has listed 5,196 Road-Right-Way-Of-Way (RROW) violators for constructing illegal residences and structures along the national highway.

Engr. Arnaldo R. Bonifacio, District Engineer of the DPWH-Tacloban City, said the agency has submitted the list of the violators to the DPWH Central Office as it is now the priority of the DPWH in Manila to run after RROW violators nationwide.

Bonifacio said the agency’s drive against RROW violators is being hampered due to lack of funds needed for sending notices to these violators.

He said the 5,196 household and building owners violated Republic Act 917 as amended by Presidential Decree 17 or the Revised Philippine National Highway Act of 1953 and Presidential Decree 1096, which bans the encroachment or illegal occupation or use for private purpose, gain or profit portions of the national highway.

Juan A. Soliva, chief of the DPWH’s RROW Section here, said a number of RROW violators have voluntarily demolished their illegal structures after the agency filed criminal charges against them with the Tacloban City Prosecutor's Office even as 10 criminal cases are still pending with the Municipal Trial Court.