JVR halts demolition

 CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny Delos Reyes may have gone against the City Council when he ordered personnel of a private contractor to stop demolishing concrete road separators along the national highway in Bulacao last Saturday evening and confiscated their mini dump truck.

Earlier, the mayor instructed his son, City Administrator John Yre Delos Reyes together with some policemen, to proceed to the area to check reports the separators were being destroyed.

When they arrived at the place, John Yre said they asked for the permit from the contractor but they were told the City Council, through Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante and the Department of Public Works and Highways, already gave them clearance to do so.

This prompted the mayor to order the police to take the dump truck to City Hall. He also questioned why the City Council issued the clearance.

John Yre said as a protocol, the City Council has to authorize the mayor to issue the necessary permit or clearance.

Villarante is the chairman of the City of Talisay Traffic Operations and Development Authority, but John Yre said Villarante’s chairmanship is not enough for him to give the clearance since the function is delegated to him by the mayor.

Villarante could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But city information officer Vince Monterde said Councilor Raul Cabañero, the president of the Association of Barangay Councils, confirmed the said resolution when he asked about the permit.

“Nangutana ko kinsa’y gipananghiran, duna kuno sa council through resolution,” Monterde said.

John Yre said they will check today the alleged permits and clearance of the contractor.

“Karong Monday akong susihon, ganahan ko mokuha both sides,” he said referring to the contractor and the City Council.

John Yre said they are expecting the contractor to claim the dump truck today at City Hall. 

Although it is a national road under the supervision of the DPWH, John Yre said the mayor questioned why there was a council resolution allowing the removal of the structure.

“National road but it needs protocol, courtesy ba lang nga ang konseho ang mo-authorize sa mayor. Mao na among gikwestiyon,” he said.

The city administrator has assured they will issue the necessary permit or clearance as long as the mayor approves it.

The concrete road separator in the middle of the highway was placed there during the time of former mayor, now Councilor Socrates Fernandez, to manage the flow of traffic in the area.

John Yre expressed apprehension that traffic would become congested if the separator is removed since pedestrians will be encouraged to cross the road like what is happening in the Tabunok area.

“Amo gihuna-huna basin ma-trapik samot like sa Tabunok naka-create og trapik kay manglabang man,” he said.

He suspects the contractor of the proposed commercial complex in the area wants to remove the separators so their heavy equipment can have easy access to the site. —/BRP (FREEMAN)