DPWH to CITOM: Close M. Velez St. for widening

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is planning to ask the officials of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) to close or to temporarily convert as one-way traffic the end portion of M. Velez Street and Don Gil Garcia Street beside the Cebu Provincial Capitol to speed up the road widening project.

DPWH Cebu City District Engineer Nicomedes Leonor said if CITOM will convert the said roads to one way traffic, either toward Guadalupe from Capitol or vice versa, the motorists may use the B. Rodriguez Street in going to Guadalupe.

At present, motorists have experienced heavy traffic congestions at the area, particularly during peak hours in the morning or in the afternoon and early evening.

According to Leonor, CITOM allowed the DPWH-hired contractor to work only from 9 o’clock in the evening until at 5 o’clock the following morning so there is no work on the road during the day.

But CITOM Chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem said they will not grant the request of the DPWH because closing the road to vehicles will cause a heavy traffic problem.

“Lisud kaayo uy kun sirad-an nato ang maong karsada kay sigurado g’yud nga maghuot og samot ang mga sakyanan. Gusto namo nga anam-anamon nila pagtrabaho ang karsada,” said Jakosalem.

At present, the personnel of Virlo Construction are installing huge culverts along the Don Gil Garcia Street beside the Capitol building. Leonor said they will construct a six-lane road at the end portion of M. Velez Street going to Don Gil Garcia Street.

The DPWH-Manila had allocated P28 million for the widening of this portion of the road, including payment for the road right-of-way. Leonor said the DPWH already paid many of the 76 houses that will be affected.

Leonor said families that already received the P17,000-disturbance fees still refuse to vacate, that is why he is planning to ask the help of the Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division (SPEED) to remove these houses.

“Mao nga dugay mi nga nakasugod sa among trabaho kay wala g’yud mamahawa kining mga tawhana nga nabayran na man unta sila,” some of the construction workers said. Leonor said that the agreement was for the concerned dwellers to vacate their place within 10 days after they received the financial assistance.

Most of the lots occupied by the affected families are considered government property and are part of a river that dried up.

M. Velez Street from V. Rama Avenue, including the bridge near the Andres Abellana Street, has been widened already but the small portion of M. Velez Street after the bridge near the Capitol building was not included in the recent project where only one vehicle can pass on each lane.

The M. Velez Street is the road that links V. Rama Avenue at the so-called “Iskina Banawa” to the Cebu Provincial Capitol building. The area is congested during peak hours because it is the only road that can be used in going to Guadalupe from uptown and vice versa. (FREEMAN)