Lapu-Lapu eyes hiring traffic czar

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City government is eyeing to appoint a traffic czar to study the city's traffic situation and come up with solutions to road congestion.

Mayor Paz Radaza disclosed in her State of the City Address on Wednesday that once ongoing projects in the city are completed, the city will push through with its plan to hire a traffic manager.

For now, however, she is urging motorists and commuters to bear with the traffic inconvenience because of the road concreting works being implemented.

Concreted

Lapu-Lapu City has repaired and concreted 70 percent of its roads, according to Radaza.

"Since 2012 until today, we have repaired and concreted a total of almost 26 kilometers of various city roads here," she said. "If joined together, the 26 kilometers of road traverse one loop from Hoops Dome to Pusok to the circumferential road and back to Hoops Dome, ending further at the Mactan Export Processing Zone Phase 1."

The mayor admitted she is aware of the various complaints raised by the public about the traffic congestion in the city, particularly in Basak area.

The national road works, however, are part of the city's preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit next year for which Lapu-Lapu is among the host cities.

Drainage

Radaza said they have identified Barangay Basak as the lowest point and most flood-prone area of the city.

Flooding is aggravated by the improper disposal of garbage from residential houses, she added.

"That's why the city has conducted an annual drainage cleanup to de-clog our drainage system and since then, we haven't experienced flooding in Basak," Radaza said.

A 1.2-kilometer parallel drainage facility has been installed in George Tampus Street in Basak, the mayor reported. Similar drainage system was installed along Bankal and Pajac road.

Likewise, a drainage line has just been completed along S. Osmeña Street and another drainage facility is set to be built in Aviation Road near TPI Homes subdivision.

Social welfare

Besides infrastructure, Radaza also boasted of how her administration is prioritizing the well-being of its constituents, especially the children.

Seventy-four percent of Lapu-Lapu City's day care centers, she said, were able to pass the accreditation conducted by the regional accreditation body in compliance with standards set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Through its various initiatives, Radaza said her administration has supported out-of-school youth through scholarships, helped abandoned and abused children and opened therapy house to children with disabilities.

Separately, the city government extended cash gifts worth P1,000 to all registered persons with disabilities, she added.  (FREEMAN)