Rama orders removal of concrete barriers

CEBU, Philippines -  Mayor Michael Rama has instructed the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately remove the concrete road barriers that they installed in the middle of flyovers in Cebu City because this will not prevent accidents, but will invite mishaps instead.

“Kon dili nila kuhaon ang mga road barriers sa flyovers, ako’y mokuha ana aron malikayan ang disgrasya,” the mayor told the reporters after he presided the meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) executive committee yesterday. (If they won’t take those barriers down, I will do it myself.)

The concrete barriers are intended to separate lanes and prevent the drivers from overtaking while on the flyovers.

DPWH District Engineer Nicomedes Leonor advised the mayor to first find out  why the road barriers are being installed in flyovers because he remembered that it was the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) that imposes such requirement.

“Ang Citom man ang nag-request ana... ipabasa ang mga recommendations per flyover basin og nakalimot lang si mayor,” Leonor told The Freeman. He said each of the road barriers has a reflector studs so it can be seen at night. (It was the Citom that required that. Maybe the mayor has forgotten.)

Citom Acting chairman Rafael Christopher Yap said he will verify if the DPWH works are consistent with the safety requirements.

The mayor suggested that instead of putting up the concrete road barriers in flyovers, the DPWH can use plastic-type barriers so that in case of accidents, serious damage will not be incurred.

Rama explained that many of the motorists that are going home at late night or at the wee hours in the morning drive their vehicles fast and it is not impossible that they will hit the concrete barriers.

“Unsa may mahitabo kon mabanggaan nang mga semento? Tulimbang ang sakyanan,” he told the reporters. (What will happen if vehicles accidentally hit those concrete barriers?)

A former beauty pageant contestant lost her leg two months ago after the vehicle that she was riding in rammed the concrete road barriers installed at the approach of the flyover in Barangay Banilad.  (FREEMAN)