Wednesday, July 23, 2008 (Philippines)

CAN THEY FINISH IT ON SEPT. 5? The July 31 deadline has been moved to Sept. 5 for the completion of the flyover in the Banilad-Talamban area in Cebu City. WTG Construction and Development Corp. owner Willy Go has publicly made the assurance. House Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar, sponsor of the project, and DPWH officials overseeing the construction share the contractor’s confidence the deadline will be met. What looks like bare beginnings of the flyover at corner Gov. Manuel Cuenco Ave. and A.S. Fortuna St. will be fitted with parts pre-fabricated at another site. (Sun.Star Photo/Allan Cuizon) CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has turned down the International Police’s (Interpol) request to fund P1.7 million worth of equipment and supplies for the mobile morgue. Osmeña said that Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) should shoulder the expenses. Cebu City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said the mayor received the request, coursed through Vice Mayor Michael Rama and the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council (CCDCC), last Monday afternoon. But the mayor declined, saying the City Government should not be the one to spend for it. As requested by the Interpol, Councilor Gerardo Carillo proposed the emergency purchase of steel tables, steel sinks, air conditioning units, electric fans, protective suits and other supplies to be used by the forensics team when they process some 500 more bodies inside the mobile morgue. [full story]