Thursday, September 22, 2005
Coastal road to remain open to motorists for another day
The South Coastal Road will still be open to all motorists until today.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he moved the deadline from midnight yesterday to ease traffic at the South Highway as Barangay Pardo celebrates the feast of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva.
Osmeña, however, did not say until what time the access road will stay open.
Yesterday, the City Council tasked Councilors Sylvan Jakosalem, Procopio Fernandez and Raul Alcoseba to institute measures designed to safeguard motorists who may not be familiar with the South Reclamation Project (SRP), especially that the road is not lighted.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who presided yesterday’s council session, said it will be scary to suddenly meet big trucks while traversing an unfamiliar and unlighted road.
“I think it is not good to open it without any (safety) measures taken,” he said, adding that tow trucks should be made available in case vehicles get stalled in the dark stretch of road.
Councilor Arsenio Pacaña agreed, saying that since Pardo is celebrating its fiesta, there will be tipsy motorists using the South Coastal Road.
Knowing that traffic had always been a problem every time Pardo celebrates its fiesta, City Administrator Francisco Fernandez earlier asked the mayor that the coastal road be opened to divert traffic.
The mayor acceded, but made it clear in a press conference yesterday that the move should not be construed that he is already reconsidering his decision to close the coastal road.
City Hall has issued passes to those wishing to use the coastal road, which considerably cuts short travel time from Talisay City to Cebu City.
“I’m not reconsidering anything. Like I said, I’m managing the situation. I tightened down and use a standard,” the mayor said.
He said that unlike when the SRP was open to the public, people came in droves and threw garbage. But now, he has things under control.
“It’s a controlled system. Until we feel we can be more generous, then we liberalize some more,” Osmeña said. (RHM)
(September 22, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
