Osmeña wants City Planning, CITOM to work hand in hand

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday ordered the heads of the City Planning Development Office and City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) to coordinate with each other so the city can have a more effective development plan.

Chief city planner Nigel Paul Villarete said he is already coordinating with Citom executive officer Arnel Tancinco to identify the places where road expansions or the opening of new roads are very necessary.

Councilor Joey Daluz III, who chairs the city council committee on real property management, was invited to yesterday's meeting of the Citom Board to brief the members about the updates on the proposed opening of F. Ramos Extension.

Villarete said, what Osmeña wants is for the city to have a good development plan.

Councilor Sylvan "Jack" Jakosalem, chairman of the city council committee on energy and transportation and a member of the Citom Board, said that the coordination between the two departments could mean a better output.

Villarete said they would study the opening more roads in the city that could minimize, if not totally solve, traffic congestion.

There is a suggestion to open an access road that will link V. Rama Avenue passing along the province-owned lot along M. Velez Street that will connect to a road adjacent to Don Mariano Cui Street.

At present, M. Velez Street is very congested because it is the only access for the motorists coming from Guadalupe and Banawa, who want to proceed to Lahug and other areas in the northern part of the city.

"Ang problema god karon mao nga nagkadaghan ang mga sakyanan apan mao ra gihapon ang gidaghanon ug ang gidak-on sa atong mga karsada," Villarete explained. - Rene U. Borromeo