Woes of Guadalupe residents

Last weekend, several readers called up or sent text messages about the traffic situation at V. Rama Ave.

The complaints came from those headed for Guadalupe, who had to queue as far back as B. Rodriguez St. because there is no other alternative route available for them with the work being done on a short stretch of Don. Gil Garcia St.

On weekdays, vehicles headed for Guadalupe can enter the Capitol compound, but on weekends, there are two options – V. Rama straight to Guadalupe or via Salvador St. in Labangon passing Banawa and left turn to Guadalupe.

We called the CITOM last Saturday to inform them about the problem and were assured that a mobile patrol was on its way to sort things out.

Yesterday afternoon, we also bumped into CITOM Chairman Sylvan ‘Jack’ Jakosalem at a mall and told him about the problem.

There is a need to adjust the timing of the traffic lights at the intersection of V. Rama Ave. and M. Velez St. since vehicles heading to Guadalupe from Calamba and those turning left to Banawa only get a few seconds of green light.

With the increase in volume of vehicles, this is indeed a problem. 

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We have been following the issue on the construction of two vehicle overpasses in the North District worth P600 million.

There have been a lot of arguments that favor those against the construction of the structures that we also agree too. One of them is the need to thoroughly study if these are what we need to solve the traffic problems.

Recently, an accident at the Banilad vehicle overpass somehow gave those against the project another reason to call for the stop of the construction. We are no engineer or architect, so we won’t comment on the flawed design.

But to blame the structure for the accident is simply just way off the line. Okay, had the structure not been there, there would have been no accident. If the driver did not pass that area, there would have also been no accident.

That is definitely not our reason why we believe that rushing the two projects is not right. We believe that the people’s money should be spent wisely.

Wisely could mean eventually allowing the vehicle overpasses to be built, but at the right place and at the right time.

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We came across a story that more than 6,000 were apprehended nationwide for not wearing a helmet while driving a motorcycle.

Does that number include Cebu? 

We are asking such, because we see so many such violations here but nobody seems to care.

Maybe it will take a major accident to get the authorities moving. Just like the way they painted the vehicle overpass in Banilad to make it a little more visible at night after the accident.

We have a government that reacts and not does what it can to prevent accidents before anything happens.

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For your comments, complaints and suggestions please feel free to contact us at 2531276 or 2538613 local 237.

You can also visit and join the Motorists’ Corner group on www.facebook.com or follow us on Twitter @NLQCebu.

You can also send email to [email protected].