USC starts tearing down fence

CEBU, Philippines - Demolition of some structures and a portion of the University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus fence has commenced yesterday, days after Cebu City Michael Rama appealed for the school to move back its fence.

USC-TC property administrator Marvin Gaerlan said improvements they introduced before in the school but needed to be demolished now are the USC-TC frontage of the fence, Drug Store, portal, entrance of the students and a portion of their covered side walk.

Antonio Niedo Cenera of P.B. Obial Construction, which was contracted to do the task, said tearing down all improvements, excavation, and restoration of the sidewalk and roads would conclude early October this year.

“Maayo unta og walay obstructions among masugatan para mahuman gyod siya in two months,” he told The FREEMAN.

Cenera said obstructions, like the Metropolitan Cebu Water District pipes, Visayan Electric Company lines, and weather disturbances would hinder their progress.

He said that they would commence the demolition of the fence and excavation today.

He earlier said that at most 10 mahogany and gmelina trees that may be affected in the development.

Cenera, however, vowed not to cut the trees, saying these would be made part of the design.

 “Dugay naman unta ni namo nga project, pero kani man gong road right of way sa mga private property owners nga maigo gyod sa widening wala pa gyod mi-responde. Sa last year, ang Avila property mi-responde pod,” he said.

The Banilad-Talamban corridor road widening project aims to speed up traffic flow in the area and to restore having widened sidewalks.

In a press conference, Cebu City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella told reporters that Atty. Augusto Go, owner of University of Cebu Banilad campus and Richard Unchuan, another property owner in Banilad, have vowed to make way for the development.

Labella urged other property owners affected by the road widening project at the Banilad-Talamban Corridor to respond to the call of the city government to help address traffic congestion in the area.

The people, he said, could adjust, such as leaving their homes 15 minutes earlier than usual, because of the noticeable increase in the volume in vehicles.

“Well of course, it’s good that the mayor is doing this scheme but I think one of the most important things to do is to ask the motorists to travel 15 minutes earlier than the schedule. Make a little adjustment and I think it would help to solve the traffic,” he said.

Labella said that as he observed traffic at the Ban-Tal road, he noticed that traffic flow has normalized flow implementation of the “no left turn policy.”

He said he will discuss his observations with Mayor Michael Rama when the latter comes back on August 12. (FREEMAN)