AS STRONG warning to stop building structures by the coastal road, at least 22 more houses had been demolished recently in Santo Niño, Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.
Architect Ma. Concepcion Alcantara, head of the Office of the Building Official (OBO), said only the structures of the houses built along the sidewalk of the road were destroyed.
However, Alcantara said they might be eventually advised to transfer to another area for safety reasons once huge vehicles will start passing by the road.
Alcantara said the whole stretch of the sidewalk should be 1.5 meters.
The sidewalks should remain free from any obstruction, Alcanta said, pointing out that the area will be closely monitored to ensure compliance of the residents.
Unlike the first 13 batch of houses being demolished hastily, Alcantara said their process will be slow and smooth, with high regard for residents who have been living in the area for more or less 10 years.
"The first demolition was immediate because the opening of the coastal road was also immediate then," she said.
Vinah Maghinay, Department of Public Works and Higways (DPWH) in Northern Mindanao spokesperson, said negotiations with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and shipping lines--which will be affected-- is still ongoing to complete the remaining 900 meters of the 12.77 kilometer stretch of the coastal road.
Maghinay said the DPWH targets the second quarter of this year for the coastal road’s inauguration.
The remaining stretch of the coastal road is expected to help the traffic situation pointing out that the road can be used as a diversion for commuters traveling from the city proper to Corrales, Puntod, Kauswagan, Bonbon, and Igpit, in Opol.
"Per instruction of our regional director, he wants that all the road right of ways should be settled so we can open the unfinished section before the year ends," she said.
The composite team from the Office of Building Official (OBO), RTA, CDRRMD, Cocpo, Clenro, City Engineer's Office, BFP, Coast Guard and RTA deputized barangay tanods of Barangay Lapasan led the clearing operation against illegal structures and extensions that encroach the road particularly along Valenzuela Road in Agora.