Residents, stakeholders want firm permits revoked

CEBU, Philippines - In time for the renewal of business permits, around 300 residents, commuters, Land Transportation Office clients and stakeholders of Barangay Looc, Mandaue City have signed a petition reiterating their last year’s opposition to the issuance of the same to a freight company’s container yard.

Copies of the petition dated December 27, 2016 were sent to Looc Barangay Captain Cesar Cabahug, Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, City Administrator Danilo Almendras and City Treasurer Regal Oliva.

They are opposing the renewal of barangay clearance and business permits and also asked for the recall and revocation of variance permit previously issued by the City Council to Philippine Multimodal Freight Services (PMFS), Inc.

The petitioners claimed they have “suffered much inconvenience” due to the operations of PMFSI.

They said PMFSI’s container yard in Looc has caused daily traffic along JM Ceniza Street due to the 20 to 40-footer vans plying at least 20 times daily on the barangay’s narrow street, and the damaged to previously concreted roads and drainage with water flooding unsolved.

They also alleged that the company’s vehicles have caused physical injuries, accidents and damage to properties, such as wires, cables and water pipes by their “abusive and reckless” drivers.

“We beg that our opposition be given immediate attention and priority as a case of public interest and that the lawyers concerned and within City Hall are not beholden, lawyering or retainer lawyers of this complained PMFSI (Looc),” the petition reads.

One of the petitioners, Dr. Danilo Dionson, said they have been sending their opposition letters to the City Council against the renewal of PMFSI’s permits since February 2015 and another in February 2016 but they got no reply yet.

“Daghan na nga session niagi pero wala’y  tingug kay gusto mo kami mangamatay o madisgrasya. Kinahanglan pa ba og suburno, datung, panapi una iapil sa session ang among reklamo kay kaming residente pobre sa sapi ug gahum?” Dionson said.

On the other hand, Dionson has challenged the city councilors to parade their brand new service vehicles along JM Ceniza St. to show it can withstand stench and mini-river bed.

Dionson was reacting to the statement of Councilor Raul Kevin Cabahug, a former Looc barangay councilman, who reportedly said that having the new service vehicles is needed for lawmakers to reach out to the farthest and remotest sitio just to hear the plights of their constituents.

He said that these are all evil “showbiz news” when Cabahug’s residence is just one kilometer away from the “most abused road.”

“Do sign-up, stand before the City Council and let your voice be heard if you truly represent the unheard voices – give us pure and genuine justice!” Dionson said. —/KBQ (FREEMAN)