CEBU, Philippines - While it was a Road Revolution for some, others felt more close to road rage after streets in the downtown area were closed yesterday to free some environs in Cebu City from pollution and to encourage people to use the empty streets for recreational activities.
As cyclists, skateboarders, and those who claimed to be environmentalists happily walked yesterday at the areas closed for a day for the event, others had to endure the inconvenience of walking to destinations cut off by the street closures.
Areas such as Mabini St. (from E. Aboitiz St. to P. Gomez St.); E. Aboitiz St. (formerly Lopez Jaena St.); and the P. Burgos St. (from V. Gullas St. to M.C. Briones St.) and Colon St. were closed yesterday for the event.
“Uyon ko aning programaha kay dili samok tan-awon ang dalan, hinaut nga mosabot lang unta ang ubang tawo,” said youth leader Ernelle Maresenia.
However, Public Utility Jeepney driver Lloyd Casecson complained that the event greatly affected the plight of the drivers. He said organizers should have chosen roads that are not normally busy.
“Kung mo-ana man gud ta og downtown, daghan gyud na og sakyanan nga mangagi, dapat dili unta na nila gamiton. Okay ra baya unta nang Road Revolution pero dapat mamili sila og dalan,” Casecson said.
The driver further said the event organizers and the Cebu City government should have studied the matter more thoroughly.
“Nakasabot man ko sa ilang purpose kung nganong nag-organize sila og Road Revolution. Nindot baya na kay makatabang ta sa pag-protect sa atong environment apan ang amo lang kay dili sad unta maamong og maayo ang panginabuhian sa mga drayber,” he added.
Linda Andrino, who was with her three-year-old child, almost missed her 10 a.m. boat trip to Bohol.
She got on a jeepney bound for Pier 3 but it could only go as far as Sanciangko St. It was already 9:30 a.m. and she had to walk all the way to the port to make her trip.
Perla Abao, a sari-sari store owner, was also supposed to buy groceries for her sari-sari store at a mall along Colon St. but was discouraged and irritated by the heavy traffic and the thought of a long walk to the mall.
Valeriano “Bobit” Avila, whose family owns Colonnade Mall and Oriente Theater, said that while the organizers wanted to solve the problem on pollution they worsened other problems such as the traffic and industry.
“Masiradoan ang negosyo kay alangan man sad palakton nimo ang mga tawo?” Avila said.
Avila further said he sent an e-mail to one of the organizers of the event, following the first Road Revolution at Osmeña Boulevard last June, telling them that they only made people mad at them.
“Okay ra unta na but dili unta sad sila makahasol sa kadaghanan,” Avila said.
Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña, who was rushed to the hospital after experiencing chills yesterday, also said he is against the road revolution. He was still confined at the Chong Hua Hospital as of yesterday but in good condition.
Yesterday’s event, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., was the second Road Revolution conducted in Cebu, with more streets being added.
The campaign seeks to reduce car use in favor of more eco-friendly and energy-efficient commuting systems such as bicycling and the use of an indigenous human-powered rail car. — With Rene U. Borromeo/BRP - (THE FREEMAN)