Rama orders inventory of roads that need fixing

CEBU, Philippines – Mayor Michael Rama has instructed the Department of Engineering and Public Works to conduct an inventory of roads here in the city that need retreading and asphalting.

Rama said the asphalting project will run until 2013 and it is DEPW that would determine which roads need to be prioritized.

"They (DEPW) should go around and check," he said.

It can be recalled that having "better roads" in the city was one of the key points in Rama's inaugural speech as new mayor of Cebu City.

City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva who joined the close-door meeting with Rama and other department heads yesterday said Rama is prioritizing the project while funds are available.

The City Council recently approved a P221 million supplemental budget, P31 million of which is intended for paving, retreading and asphalting of roads. 

Councilors Jose Daluz III and Lea Ouano-Japson also attended the meeting.

In the case of the North Reclamation Area, the mayor already ordered the immediate repair of roads near commercial establishments. Most of the establishment owners have, in principle, agreed to pay their taxes in advance so that the city can use the funds to repair drainage systems, roads and sidewalks.

Late last year, City Hall and SM City signed an agreement for the mall to pay some P50 million in taxes in advance, on the condition that the city will use the tax pay-ment to finance, implement and complete various vital infrastructure projects and government programs in 2010.

The city is scheduled to start retreading and asphalting of one lane of J.C. de Veyra Avenue, which stretches from the old White Gold to SM City.

City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) Board Chairman Sylvan Jakosalem said that once the roads are fixed, a truck ban will be implemented at the NRA to prevent future damage on the roads.

Rama also asked CITOM to come up with a traffic plan and a rerouting scheme during the repair period. (FREEMAN)