To discuss property encroaching road: Rama to meet with Mormon leaders

CEBU, Philippines - Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will be meeting with leaders of the Mormon Church on Friday to discuss his concerns over the latter’s property along Gorordo Avenue, which has been identified as encroaching the sidewalk.

Yesterday, after his walk through along Gorordo Avenue to Salinas Drive and until the TESDA fence, Rama said he has identified his concerns of properties encroaching on the road, including the Mormon Temple.

The Mormon Temple has been earlier identified by the Cebu City government as one of the 15 structures encroaching on the public road in Barangay Lahug.

 Rama said there is a need for the Church of Latter Day Saints to provide at least 5 to 7 meters set back of its fence from the road.

With this, Rama has set a meeting with the Mormon leaders tomorrow in their office in Manila.

 Ely Espina, executive assistant and Kahayag Sugbo coordinator, said church officials already agreed to set back the property, in line with the city’s plans to widen roads.

 “Maghuwat lang mi sa outcome sa meeting, we will just support the mayor before we proceed to our future plans,” Espina said.

Kahayag was organized in 2011, under public-private partnership initiatives, through the directive of the city mayor to help rehabilitate the sidewalk along Gorordo Avenue, Salinas Drive and the road going to Marco Polo in Barangay Busay.

 Espina said some structures near the Mormon Church have already been dismantled earlier this month.

 Rama also instructed the Kahayag Group to negotiate with AFP CENTCOM to clear the small island going to Camp Lapu-Lapu at the intersection of Wilson St. and Salinas Drive.

 Meanwhile, Rama instructed the Department of Engineering and Public Works chief, Jose Marie Poblete, to open the corner of Salinas Drive turning right to Veterans Drive to allow a free-flowing flare system. Both corners of Salinas Drive Extension connecting to Veterans Drive going north and Gorordo Avenue going south will also be opened.

 Rama also wants to reduce and reconfigure the Lahug Island Park across JY Square to allow wider traffic flow and the TESDA fence needs to be set back further because there’s not enough space for pedestrians.

 Rama has asked acting mayor Edgardo Labella to study an ordinance that will mandate business establishments to provide a 3-meter wide sidewalk and to clear it with any obstructing structures.  — (FREEMAN)