CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) may consider suspending the pay parking at the Fuente Osmeña Circle, now that the construction works for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) are now proceeding towards that area.
In the meantime, the CCTO is asking drivers to avoid double parking and stopping at a “no-stop sign” near the vicinity.
That area is one of the busiest spots in the city and the CBRT road construction is causing heavier traffic at the moment, with around half of the whole road spread around the Fuente roundabout being closed down.
“Nakuhaan na natog two lanes, which is half sa atong road, unya naa pa tay pay parking. Medyo maka-create gyud siya ug congestion, especially on the side of Maxilom Avenue and V. Rama and Capitol area,” said Paul Gotiong, CCTO division head for public mass transport.
At present, the CCTO is assigning more personnel in the area to ensure a smooth traffic flow, despite the development works.
They are now studying the possibility of suspending the pay parking area to free up some space.
“If ever gyud siguro magkahuot gyud diha na area, basin that part sa maagian i-suspend nato ang parking. If makaya pa siya, we will just be deploying enforcers to really reprimand double parking,” Gotiong said.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Audit has already given a green light for the demolition of two skywalks along Phase 1 of the CBRT route.
However, the contractors are still waiting for the necessary demolition permit from the Office of the Building Official (OBO).
City Councilor Jerry Guardo, the city council’s committee on infrastructure chairman, said there is no use for such a skywalk anymore as the center island below the structure had been removed already.
“The reason why natukod ng skywalk is naay existing center island. So, dili ka-cross, dili kalabang-labang ang mga tawo. But since i-demolish naman na siya, dili na siya functional and usable ang skywalk kay ang mga pedestrian can walk on the pedestrian crossing,” Guardo said.
At the Carbon Market, Cebu2World Deputy General Manager Lydwena Eco said there was just a misunderstanding concerning the viral post of alleged overcharging at the Warwick barracks parking area.
Eco said motorcycle drivers are just asked to pay P25 as an entry fee and will no longer be charged once they go out.
For four-wheeled vehicles and the like, the P25 per entry fee has now been changed to P25 per hour.
This is because there are vehicles that are allegedly parked in the area, even if they are not doing any transaction in Carbon.
They are doing this to discourage car owners from “overstaying” and give others a chance to properly park, since they only have 40 slots for cars.
The parking space at the barracks though is just temporary due to the pending issues between the Cebu Ports Authority and the Cebu City Government.
Eco said they are just thankful to Mayor Mike Rama for allowing a portion of the Freedom Park to be utilized as a “hawkers center” and parking lot for the displaced tenants of the Puso Village and the mechanized parking lot.
“The barracks is only a temporary facility. It is not the ultimate use of the space, the 6,000 square meters would add to green space, open space to Cebu. Give us a chance to deliver what we are supposed to deliver,” Eco said. — (FREEMAN)