Rama tasks city’s CCTO, DEPW to finish job at NRA

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has tasked two agencies to respectively formulate an enhanced traffic scheme and finish road repairs at North Reclamation Area with the opening of Robinsons Galleria Cebu on December 10.

Rama wants the Cebu City Transportation Office and the Department of Engineering and Public Works to finish the job before he arrives from Paris, France where he is currently attending the climate change conference with world leaders.

“What happened in SM (Seaside City Cebu) opening, we will not allow to happen at Robinsons. The picture will be unimaginable,” he said, referring to the heavy traffic brought about by the opening of SM Seaside City at the South Road Properties on November 27.

Rama said a huge number of people will surely flock these new shopping malls with the Christmas season, thus, will affect road traffic.

 “There will be rush, there will be sale and hence curiosity (on these newly-constructed malls) will always bring convergence,” he said.

The tasks were given to DEPW head Engr. Jose Marie Poblete, CCTO acting department head lawyer Rafael Yap, CCTO acting executive director lawyer Rey Gealon, and CCTO operations head Jonathan Tumulak.

Rama particularly directed DEPW to repair or desilt drainage structures at NRA and restore the sidewalks to its standard width.

“I want this time when I will arrive, I will roam around the whole North Reclamation Area. I want all side roads to recover its width and be asphalted, and see to it if there is available drainage,” he said.

“When opening will come, all road avenues - side road and main road – will now be a concern to already come up on how the movement of the road traffic will be,” he added.

The mayor also wants the whole stretch of NRA well-lighted.

For both NRA and SRP, Rama likewise directed CCTO to put in place the necessary traffic signage to guide motorists.

Meanwhile, a senatorial candidate running on the platform of tourism believes that when the country’s tourism industry is significantly developed, this would translate to more jobs and better quality of life.

Mark Lapid, son of actor and Senator Lito Lapid, said that the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority has allocated P17 billion for tourism infrastructure nationwide, of which, P1 billion is allocated for Cebu.

Lapid is the chief operating officer of TIEZA, the infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism.

He said that previously only national roads are paved or constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways but starting in 2013, this policy has changed.

“Ngayon kahit barangay roads pa ‘yan pwedeng lagyan ng roads funded by DPWH. Provided na ‘yung daan papunta sa mga tourism destination or tourism sites,” he said.

He cited the wave pool in barangay Lamac, Pinamungajan, Cebu wherein the road leading to this place is a barangay road but funded by DPWH amounting to P80 million.

Lapid said that it is the DOT- TIEZA that shall assess if a specific place is a tourism site.

”Kami ‘yung mag-identify tapos kung na-identify na namin ‘yung place as tourism site, we can then recommend to DPWH na lagyan ng daan as well as other facilities,” he said.   

Lapid added that he will also push, if elected as senator, for Cebu to have a light rail transit or a mono rail transit for faster transportation system.

He said Cebu should also be ready for cruise liner. — (FREEMAN)