Mall management asks for extension to clear sidewalk

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of a mall located downtown asked the Cebu City government to extend the time given to them to clear the sidewalk of P. Gullas Street where their facility is encroaching.

Benjamen Sanchez, engineering supervisor of the Gaisano Metro Colon, said they have to clear the structure built at the back of the establishment where their grease trap facility is placed. Grease trap facility is used in disposing of wastes of an establishment.

However, Sanchez said they still have to build a sewerage treatment facility, which will be bigger but with the same function as the grease trap facility, at a vacant lot beside the building.

"Ang amo lang unta ba dili mi molabay hugaw sa drainage maong among gi-trap ang grease…mix (wastes) nana siya," he said.

According to Sanchez, they need three months to create the facility which will be worth P5 million. This has already been approved by their management, he said.

City administrator Lucille Mercado said the city sent the mall management a letter last February informing it to clear the area until May 1.

Sanchez said it is not easy to remove the structure.

"Dako kaayo ang area niya among gihinay-hinay pagkuha ang mga metals, mga equipment. Naa pa man sad among refrigeration didto kanang sa gamit sa (in refrigerating) meat, fish, ug vegetable," he said.

The structure is 1.5-meters in width and 60 meters in length.

Mercado said the city received a letter from the establishment asking for an extension but there's no specific time duration of the extension.

"Niingon ra sila nga mangayo sila extension. As of now wala man gud silay klaro unsa ilang plano. (If they cannot clear until May 1) kita nay moguba. Og dili sila, kita," Mercado said.

"Besides dili nasad pwede nga ato na sad i-extend.Nangayo sila three months nga mauli na kono nila ang sidewalk city so we granted maong May 1. So sila maoy primiro gyud nangayo which we granted karon nangayo na sad sila extension," she added

For their part, Sanchez could not determine the specific timeframe but said that at present they are trying their best to immediately construct the sewerage treatment facility. (FREEMAN)