Pope John Paul II Ave: ‘Only 11, not 34 trees would be earth-balled’

CEBU, Philippines - After a three-hour walkthrough from Salinas Drive in Lahug to Mabolo yesterday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said only portions of the Pope John Paul II Avenue the center island will be removed.

He said this would mean only 11 of 34 trees in the center island, specifically those from the corner of Archbishop Reyes Avenue to Cardinal Rosales Avenue, will be earth-balled.

“We will be pushing for that (securing permit from Department of Environment and Natural Resources) actually. We will not be forcing for all (34 trees to be earth-balled),” Rama said.

Yesterday, the mayor, city officials, and representatives of the Movement for Livable Cebu, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., and other civil society organizations inspected the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-route meetings scheduled this month.

The walkthrough took place after environmentalists expressed opposition to Rama’s initial plan to remove the center island of Pope John Paul II Avenue from the intersection of Cardinal Rosales Avenue to that of Archbishop Reyes Avenue.

The plan, Rama said, was meant to address the “real” traffic situation and flooding problem in the area, not just as preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016 and APEC summit meetings.  Rama, though, had said that he was willing to listen to all stakeholders; hence, the compromise that the city would earth-ball only 11 trees instead of 34 trees.

However, MLC’s Rudy Alix said the group will present a counter-proposal containing a “logical” design of the center island to be crafted by four professional urban planners.

“We are not yet that eager to say ok to the compromise proposal of the mayor. We would rather have our urban planners look at the problem professionally and totally and come up with a proposal also,” he said.

Meanwhile, also said that he wants the center island near JY in Lahug converted into a roundabout for a better traffic flow in the area.

He also ordered the City Legal Office; Department of Engineering and Public Works; Cebu City Zoning Board; and Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement to attend to the “illegal walls and barriers” that are encroaching into the sidewalk along the stretch of Salinas Drive.

City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete, who was with the mayor during the walkthrough, said the barriers and walls were mere obstructions and that the city will exercise due process before doing something about them.

“It’s clear nga naay superfluity and naka-obstruct sila. It becomes nga ang area mahimong ihi-anan. The law requires nga mo-set back ang structure by two meters from the property line. But, they will be notified after our inventory,” he said.

The city will be also implement the order of the mayor for road configurations, flaring, clearing of the sidewalk, transfer of electric posts, among others, along the stretch of Salinas Drive and the Pope John Paul II Avenue. — (FREEMAN)