CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City north district Rep. Raul V. del Mar is against the removal of roofs of the city’s skywalks that were constructed out of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), saying it is not the right way to prevent beggars and street children from loitering and sleeping in these structure.
“Wala ko makauyon nianang ilang plano kay gituyo nato na pagbutang ang atop aron nga kon mag-uwan dili mabasa ang mga tawo nga moagi paglabang sa karsada, ug kon panahon sa adlaw, dili usab sila mabuwad sa init sa adlaw,” del Mar said.
Earlier, former city councilor Lea Japson, who now heads Cebu’s Department of Social Welfare and Service, recommended the removal of the roofs of the skywalks to prevent beggars and the streetchildren from staying in these facilities.
Del Mar said the problem on beggars and street children, who are occupying the skywalks, can be easily solved by assigning policemen or even tanods to constantly patrol the place and drive these people away so the public may not be scared of them.
It was observed that some people, particularly the women, are no longer using the skywalks near Fuente Osmeña because they are afraid of the street children that are loitering there, asking for money and food.
Instead of using the skywalks, some pedestrians cross the street, posing additional risks to both the pedestrians and the motoring public.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the issue should be carefully studied because while the city encouraged the public to pass by the skywalk, he believed that once the roof is removed the people will no longer climb the facility, but to walk directly across the road.
Del Mar is hoping that the barangay captains will assign some of their tanods to guide the public to pass through the skywalk, rather than to walk directly to the other side of the road risking their lives of being hit by speeding vehicles.
A public school teacher assigned in Banilad Elementary School was critically injured last year after he was bumped by a city-owned vehicle while walking directly to the other side of the road, even if there is a skywalk in the place. (FREEMAN)