Probe clears ‘hotel parking’

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu City Hall’s clearing team yesterday removed the structures at a supposed parking lot of a hotel along D. Jakosalem Street, corner Ranudo Street.

Raquel Arce, who heads the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement team that conducted the clearing operation, said the structures beside Cebu Indiana Hotel were illegal and were actually obstructing the road.

PROBE got rid of the barrels and ropes, which were apparently set up as the hotel parking lot. The hotel, Arce said, claims ownership of the lot but the City Integrated Traffic Operations Management said  area is part of Ranudo Street.

“Gibutangan pa nila og mga baril ug pisi, gipormang diagonal ang pag-parking sa sakyanan sa ilang mga kliyente. Mura sila og nakatag-iya sa sidewalk,” Arce said.

Arce said that CITOM placed a “No Parking” sign at the said sidewalk days prior to the clearing operation, but the signage was removed.

The CITOM board passed a resolution directing PROBE to clear the area from any obstruction.

Arce said they gave the hotel management 72-hour notice on Friday.

Meanwhile, PROBE has reminded vendors not to leave their wares on the sidewalk otherwise these will be confiscated by the members of the clearing team.

Arce said all sidewalks should be cleared of any obstruction before 10 p.m. She said the clearing team will start its operation at 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.

 â€œWe are implementing a GASA (Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa) resolution nga ang regulated vendors along certain areas like Magallanes, Manalili, Leon Kilat Street will clear sidewalk after ten in the evening, Arce said.

PROBE recommended that Natalio Bacalso Avenue should be cleared next.

“Ang area nga tagaan og unang pagtagad ang Natalio Bacalso. So from Bulacao to E-Mall (Elizabeth Mall) and vice-versa,” Arce said.

“Among nabantayan sa una, they’ll just leave their things such as tables, panindas ug ang mga trapal ibilin lang sa sidewalk unya ugma nila balikan kay maninda nasad,”  Arce added.

The clearing operations started three weeks ago. Arce said they have already cleared the areas around San Jose Recoletos in P. Lopez, Magallanes and Leon Kilat.

According to Arce, confiscated wares, except for wooden carts (karumata), can be redeemed after paying P500 fine and attending a seminar.

Arce said carts are not allowed to be redeemed and will be destroyed.

“For mga karumata nga gibaligya-an dili na gyud ma-uli bisan pa’g ilang lukaton. Gubaon na gyud na nato,” she said. (FREEMAN)