More outposts at NRA pushed

CEBU, Philippines — To improve the condition of Mandaue’s side of the North Reclamation Area (NRA), Assistant City Administrator Marvin Soco has recommended the upgrading of its security and monitoring measures.

Soco recommended to construct more outposts at the NRA, as well as urging private companies owning trucks to have cemented premises and have pressure water to do away with muddy truck tires.

Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, during their previous meetings, had advised Soco to make recommendations to help enhance NRA.

Quisumbing has appointed Soco as NRA manager last month.  Soco's department is a newly-established office under the Mandaue City Government.

"We'll be having three shifts – morning to afternoon, afternoon to evening, evening to dawn," he said referring to the outpost for NRA security especially near Bai Hotel, City Times Square and in front of the terminal of Parkmall.

NRA is composed of the Ouano Avenue, Zuellig Avenue, Mantawi Drive which consists of business establishments, private hospitals, a mall and a hotel.

Soco added that they will be also adding outposts in front of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar in Ouano Avenue as well as another area in Zuellig Avenue that has bars around it.

Soco also wants that the business establishments that have truck yards should have cemented grounds on their area as part of road de-cluttering.

"Ato proposal, ipasemento nila para limpyo siya unya magbutag sila'g pressure water para they see to it nga before mogawas ilahang truck sa dan, limpyo na ang mga ligid," Soco explained.

"Mao man gud nay maka-cause og abog, maka-cause og lapok unya wala man tay enough manpower to clean the streets. Dapat gyud ni bantayan nato," he added.

Included also in his recommendations are the wearing of traffic vests of assigned NRA security and possible penalty to those trucks carrying dust and mud while passing through the NRA.

Initially, the NRA has about 12 personnel from the City's Department of General Services, who serve as back-ups to  the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) and the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO).

"Ang ilaha diha is assistance lang.  I don't recommend, I don't allow them to bring arms (firearms), just radio lang. Ang ila lang is coordination. Sila ang back-up sa traffic, sa TEAM, and back-up sila sa police," Soco said.

The MCPO Station 1-Centro and MCPO Station 2-Subangdaku are the police stations assigned to secure the NRA, aside from TEAM and the NRA personnel.

At present, the NRA has no area of jurisdiction nor is it part of a barangay.

Soco, however, clarified that before imposing penalties, he has yet to know and review if there are existing city ordinance about truck maintenance before using the NRA.

His recommendations will be sent to the Office of the City Mayor, which will then endorse it to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for further study.  (FREEMAN)