City to open more alternative roads in mountain baragays

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government plans to build more alternative access roads that will connect to the mountain barangays of the city.

City Councilor Jerry Guardo said that Mayor Edgardo Labella ordered the opening of more access roads to decongest the main thoroughfares.

“There are two in the pipe line that we are pursuing right now, first from Barangay Pardo to Barangay Toong that is about six kilometers, another is Barangay Pamutan in the South that will connect also to Campo Cuatro, diri sa Talisay boundary,” said Guardo.

The Pardo-Toong and Pamutan-Campo Cuatro roads will give motorists a direct access to Barangay Sapangdaku without passing through the main highway. Guardo said the City is also planning to open another road to connect directly to Barangay Babag.

“In other words if you are from the south and then gusto ka muadto sa transcentral highway, dili naka muagi sa Lahug JY sa city, in order to decongest the traffic sa uptown particularly Lahug,” said Guardo.

“Likewise if you are from central highway dili naka muagi sa Lahug JY, para mu less ang traffic diri nalang ka muagi from Babag-Sapangdaku-Pamutan then you can go either Barangay Pardo or if sa south ka deretso naka sa Talisay sa Campo Cuatro,” he added.

According to Guardo, the existing road in Pamutan is not connected to Campo Cuatro. He said that an estimated 3 to 4 kilometers of road is needed to connect Pamutan to Campo Cuatro.

Guardo said that the residents of Pamutan had been complaining that they would need to turn around the area to get to the market.

Guardo said the city is currently negotiating with the owners of the lots that will be affected by the project. A series of consultations with the barangay officials and the public was also conducted.

“Mao atong directions, we’re looking at opening alternative roads to decongest the traffic in the lowland barangays,” said Guardo.

Guardo said that the new roads would be four lanes to make it easy for the motorists.

The city will be seeking assistance and support from the national government for the funding requirement. The city government is also planning to procure additional equipment needed for the road projects.

“We will refer this to DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), they will conduct a feasibility study, at least we are looking for an alternative,” said Guardo.

He said they are targeting to start the road opening projects by next year.  FPL (FREEMAN)