Road Revo organizers say sorry

CEBU, Philippines -   The organizers of the Road Revolution yesterday issued an apology to the public for the inconvenience that they have caused to motorists and commuters during the closure of some streets in the downtown area last Saturday.

Vince Cinches, country coordinator of the environmental group 350.org, made the apology on behalf of the organizers after they were criticized because of the inconvenience that the public had to endure that day.

Cinches said they are not discouraged by the criticismsand that they will still pursue the advocacy but with more coordinative the next time.

 The group plans to hold another Road Revolution in November.

“We will come up with a checklist on the technical and social preparations among others,” he said.

According to him, they will continue to promote clean air in Cebu City to make it a livable place.

The group plans to have another Road Revolution before the year ends and this time they will use one lane of the Osmeña Boulevard. Cinches said they intend to hold it on a Sunday.

The group plans to put up emission testing centers along the roads where vehicles will be tested.

“This time we will be working more closely with the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management,” Cinches said.

CITOM executive director Raphael Yap, in an interview over dyLA, said he will consider the suggestion to hold a public hearing before any permit could be granted for the next Road Revolution.

Yap said he will bringbefore the CITOM Board the suggestion to submit the application for Road Revolution to public consultation.

Yap also defended the seemingly late dissemination of the rerouting during last Saturday’s event. According to him, it was supposed to be the organizers’ responsibility to inform the public about it.

He also confirmed that it was not the environmentalists’ group that was granted permit for the closure of the road last Saturday.

Yap said it was the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation that applied for the permit to close some of the roads in the downtown area because of their heritage walk.

Yap said it was the RAFI event organizers who offered the environmentalists to join them in the event by also holding the Road Revolution.

Meanwhile, Cinches offered a dialogue with South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña to explain their advocacy. –/FPL (FREEMAN)