Carmelite Sisters hit flyover project

The nuns of the Carmelite monastery in barangay Mabolo recently wrote the city council strongly opposing the construction of a flyover at the intersection of Juan Luna and Cardinal Rosales Avenues.

The nuns said that residents in the area could attest that traffic congestion has not been a problem in the intersection -a few meters from the entrance of the monastery- so a flyover might only create more problems in the future, instead of being a solution.

"Whatever little advantage the fly-over may give, will be offset by a great damage, spiritual, cultural and historical, because the Carmelite Monastery will be rendered difficult of access to the people of Cebu," the prioress of the nuns said in a letter to the city council.

The nuns requested for more thorough and proper review of the planned flyover, which will rise parallel with Juan Luna Avenue (formerly San Jose dela Montaña Avenue) and span across and over Cardinal Rosales Avenue.

They contended that Juan Luna Avenue is not a wide road and erecting a flyover on it would further limit the space for vehicles making left or right turns as they pass by the structure.

The nuns expressed apprehensions that, in case of fires in the area, the fire trucks will have difficulty maneuvering due to constricted road space.

"The dead spaces under the overpass will also attract squatters, illegal vendors, and will be convenient hiding places for pickpockets and bag snatchers," the nuns said.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, laws committee chairman and a resident of Mabolo, had urged the city's department of engineering and public works to verify the planned flyover construction while giving the residents there the opportunity to air their sentiments about the project.

Reports, reaching the nuns, have stated that the construction is part of the city preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in December.

The flyover is supposed to ensure a smooth traffic flow for the Asean delegates who will be going to and from Marriott Hotel at the Cebu Business Park, and the Marco Polo Plaza hotel in Lahug. But The Freeman learned that the city's infrastructure committee had already discussed the flyover project in the area, three years ago.

The Carmelite Sisters came to Cebu in 1949 when Cebu was rising from the ruins of World War II. They said Carmelites nuns live a life of silence, sacrifice and prayers for the entire world, and "especially for the people among whom they live." - Rene U. Borromeo