Rama says repair of major roads in city to start soon

CEBU, Philippines - With the P52 million funding for additional road repair already approved, Vice Mayor Michael Rama yesterday assured that asphalting of major roads in the city will be implemented once the ongoing asphalting of the city’s interior roads would be completed. 

With the 2010 elections just around the bend, opposition leaders said the ongoing asphalting in the barangays is but politically motivated. They further claimed that barangays whose barangay captains are identified with the opposition group Kugi Uswag Sugbu are allegedly not included in the asphalting project.

Some motorists also observed they did not notice the so-called “asphalt storm” earlier promised by Mayor Tomas Osmeña and that road repairs are but limited to patching works like what has been done in some parts of Echavez Street, a busy street in barangay Zapatera.

Echavez Street is one of the busiest two-way roads in the city because aside from the Talamban-bound public utility jeepneys, the road also serves as easy access to many private vehicles.

But Rama said the asphalting project commenced in the interior roads because the major roads are being maintained by the national government.

The P52 million additional funding for road repair is included in the fifth supplemental budget of the city.

Rama said Echavez Street is among the roads that would be prioritized by the asphalting project, aside from F. Jaca Street in barangay Inayawan, highway Tagonol, and some roads in barangay T. Padilla. — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)