City to clear Legaspi Ext. of traffic obstacles, trucks

CEBU – After Cebu City Hall cleared Legaspi Extension in barangay San Roque of illegal structures deemed eyesores to the Fort San Pedro public plaza, the place was quickly turned into a parking area for several trucks-for-hire.

The drivers of these trucks ignore the “no parking” signs beside the road and contribute to traffic congestion, particularly in the afternoon when many vehicles enter the port area to drop off passengers.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who personally observed the illegal parking of trucks-for-hire immediately, ordered the City Traffic Operations Management to clear Legaspi Ext. of traffic obstacles and asked councilor Arsenio Pacaña, to monitor the compliance to the order.

Pacaña is the chairman of the City Council committee on historical affairs and Fort San Pedro is among the tourist attraction sites in the city.

Rama said that place should not be made as a parking area for any type of vehicle.

Meanwhile, several streets of the city may soon be declared by the city council as off-limits for parking by all types of vehicles at any time, vehicles caught parked there may be towed.

Nobody opposed the proposed amendment of the ordinance when the City Council presented it to a public hearing last Wednesday.

Councilor Raul Alcoseba, chairman of the council committee on traffic management, proposed to declare several roads in the city off-limits to parking anytime as one way to improve the traffic.

The traffic enforcers have also observed that some sidewalks are used by the vehicle owners as overnight parking areas.

Councilor Edgardo Labella hopes that once the proposed amendment of the ordinance will be approved, it will be strictly implemented by the traffic authorities.

The roads are Escario St., General Maxilom Ave., B. Rodriguez St., P. del Rosario St., Gorordo Ave., Salinas Drive, Archbishop Reyes Ave., Tagonol Road in Mambaling, Kaoshiung St. in the North Reclamation Area, Borgonia St., F. Gochan St., F. Cabahug St. and Tres Padres St. in Mabolo, El Filibusterismo in Ermita, Panganiban St., J. Solon Drive in Lahug and P. Datan St. in Guadalupe. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)