Hearing vs. dumping of building materials on roads snubbed?

It seems that none among those summoned is interested in the enacting of an ordinance penalizing building contractors who allegedly obstruct the flow of traffic by depositing or dumping their construction materials beside or on roads near construction sites.

The proposed ordinance sponsored by councilor Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba, chairman of the city council committee on traffic management, was scheduled for a public hearing last Wednesday, but nobody appeared from those who were invited.

"Gipangkapoy tingali," one of the city councilors said after city secretary Estrella delos Reyes informed them that nobody has signified to speak for or against the proposed ordinance.

The committee on laws chaired by councilor Edgardo Labella already gave the go signal for the proposed ordinance because it is allowed by the law since it is intended to have a smooth flow of traffic.

Since Cebu is a fast growing metropolis, the construction of buildings for hotels, schools and for other commercial purposes is done in different places in the city and sometimes these construction works contribute to traffic problems.

It was observed that some building contractors just allow their workers to dump or unload equipment and construction materials along the road where construction site is, causing inconvenience to passing motorists.

In one instance, the traffic authorities encountered traffic problems when the contractor of a building owned by councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa constructed at corner Leon Kilat and P. del Rosario Streets reportedly just dumped construction materials along the road.

This prompted the officials of the City Traffic Operations Management to pass a resolution asking the city council to enact an ordinance to address the problem.

If the proposed ordinance will be enacted, the building contractors will be allowed only to unload their construction materials beside roads, where their construction sites are beginning 11 p.m. and remove them before 4 a.m. - Rene U. Borromeo