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Saturday, April 29, 2006
Mabolo residents not against flyover
Residents and owners of establishments along Juan Luna Ave. in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu city are not really against having a flyover built in their area.
That is, if the structure is built across, and not along Juan Luna Ave., to connect Cardinal Rosales Ave. and F. Cabahug St.
This is also the recommendation of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) board.
In its April 5 meeting, the board agreed that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 should stick to the original plan conceived in 2001.
The Carmelite Monastery nuns are also objecting to the proposed flyover along Juan Luna, fearing the loss of their privacy.
They have so far gathered 15,000 signatures from devotees and visitors in its appeal for DPWH and Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City North) to restudy and reconsider the project.
Vigil
They sought the help of Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, who talked to President Arroyo to relay the nuns’ concern.
A rosary vigil is also held at 6 p.m. every day at the Carmelite chapel regarding the flyover.
Councilor Sylvan Jako-salem, in a separate interview, said he already sent the residents’ and business owners’ position paper
to the president yesterday.
Jakosalem heads the City council committee on energy, transportation, communication, and other utilities.
The president, he said, promised to have DPWH review all options, which should include creating a tunnel, just to spare the historic Carmelite Monastery.
“I’ll call her after a week to follow up the position paper. That is to give her time to read it,” Jakosalem said.
Yesterday, residents and business owners held a press conference to express their concern after learning that DPWH 7 Director Robert Lala actually informed the council, through a letter dated April 5, that they will soon start building the flyover.
Citom
Former provincial board member Ferdinand Jakosalem, during the press conference, said they want DPWH to concur with the Citom board decision.
“Our stand is to follow the decision of the authority in determining the problem areas. Citom knows where the problem is and it should be its decision that should be followed,” he said.
Nine other affected businessmen and residents agreed that having the flyover along the Cardinal Rosales-F. Cabahug stretch is preferable than the DPWH plan.
They argued that the flyover, if placed along Juan Luna Ave., spoils the beauty of the road, whose center island were planted with flame trees that are “a sight to behold” when in bloom.
They also said that the historical significance of the Carmelite Monastery should be given weight.
The monastery served as refuge of Corazon C. Aquino in the days before Edsa 1. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 29, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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