Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Bry. stalled in plan to clear area near bridge
EFFORTS of Barangay Pusok officials to secure the area under the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge were stalled after the Lapu-Lapu City Council said ownership of the area must be determined first.
This after the City Council deferred its approval on the barangay ordinance prohibiting overnight parking in the area under the second bridge.
The ordinance, passed last September yet, was sent to the City Council for review and approval. It was approved by the barangay council as part of the security measures in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit next month.
In passing the ordinance, officials of Barangay Pusok, which has jurisdiction of the area, said it will help “deter lawless elements from initiating terrorist acts during the international gathering.”
“It might be hit by a car with a bomb,” said Barangay Secretary Hermes Lutao, referring to the bridge’s huge posts.
Because of this, the barangay sent notices since last year, asking vehicle owners to park their vehicles elsewhere. Lutao said some of the vehicles are non-functioning and have been parked there permanently.
But ity Councilor Nelson Yap said he couldn’t remember the bridge being turned over to the City Government after it was completed.
This prompted the City Council to withdraw the motion to approve and ordered the secretariat to establish the ownership of the area.
But Lutao, in a separate interview, said there already was a formal turnover.
Pusok Barangay Captain Tranquilino Omolon, for his part, said he was then a councilor when he attended a formal turnover in 1998. During the ceremony, a plaque was handed to then mayor Ernest Luke Weigel Jr., apparently representing ownership of the area.
Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City Police Chief Louie Oppus lauded the barangay’s move for thinking ahead in terms of securing their area from lawless elements.
Lutao, in turn, said he is thankful that two field training program policemen, aside from patrol boats, guard the area 24 hours a day. (OCP)
