Citom asks DPWH: No roof for Sikatuna-Imus skywalk, please!

Cebu City traffic officials have requested the Department of Public Works and Highways not to place any roof to the skywalk being constructed at the intersections of Sikatuna Street and Imus Avenue to discourage loitering of vagrants and mendicants there.

The City Traffic Operations Management supports the construction of a pedestrian overpass in barangay Day-as to minimize risks upon people who cross Imus Avenue, particularly the pupils of Zapatera Elementary School.

Citom officials also asked the DPWH, through its contractor, to comply with requirements intended to ensure the safety of the public, such as the installation of pedestrian barriers at the sidewalk on both sides of the road, from the corner of the intersection towards the skywalk, and should extend at approximately 30 meters ahead of the skywalk.

The sidewalk within the area should be cleared from any obstructions to give way to pedestrians going to and from the skywalk. Barangay officials are asked to monitor the use of the facility by enforcing strictly that no pedestrians will be walking directly on the road.

However, disabled persons may be allowed to cross the road even without passing the skywalk, but with the assistance of the traffic personnel or the tanod manning the place.

Citom also asked the DPWH to turn over the supervision and maintenance of all skywalks in Cebu City to the barangays where these infrastructure projects are located. At present, these pedestrian overpasses in Cebu City are still supervised by the DPWH.

There are 18 skywalks constructed in different places in the city, but the public seldom use these infrastructure projects because they would rather walk on the road than climb up filthy and stinking structures already occupied by vagrant mendicants, psychotic vagrants, the homeless including rugby boys and girls. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV