Dad: City's flyovers not unsafe

CEBU, Philippines - The head of the Cebu City Council’s Committee on Traffic Management does not agree that flyovers are unsafe just because a vehicle rammed a flyover’s wall in Barangay Banilad over the weekend.

It was City Traffic Operations Management Chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem who said that some flyovers are unsafe and compromise the safety of motorists and pedestrians because these are not equipped with traffic signs and other safety measures.

Three people were hurt when the Sports Utility Vehicle hit the concrete wall of the Banilad flyover past 10 p.m. last Saturday, they were identified as Mary Ann Mendoza, 34; Jesus Montellano, 62; and Honorio Cumbre, 62.

“I don’t want to agree right away with his statement that because of the recent accident he concluded flyovers to be unsafe…he should also consider that these accidents happen if not all mostly after 10 p.m.” Councilor Ritchie Osmeña said.

According to Osmeña that there was a study conducted and it shows that 70 percent of the road accidents that happen after 10 p.m. and mostly involve drivers under the influence of liquor, the rest are caused by overspeeding.

“So pasabot ani if an accident happens in front of a church shall we consider the church to be unsafe?” Osmeña asked.

But Jakosalem clarified his statement saying “klaro man to akong giingon nga any infrastructure project nga naa g’yud sa dalan labi na flyovers should have warning signs and clear lane dividers, plastic reflectors that are very visible at night in order to make the motorists safe. Wala man sad ko moingon nga all flyovers are dangerous.”

But after the incident last Saturday, Department of Public Works and Highways Cebu City district engineer Nicomedes Leonor promised to install reflectorized warning signs at the vicinity of flyovers so these can be seen by the drivers at night.

Jakosalem and the other members of CITOM Board are supporting the stand of Mayor Michael Rama against the construction of more flyover projects in the city, particularly in barangays Carreta and Kamputhaw.

The DPWH had suspended the construction of the two flyover projects along General Maxilom and M.J. Cuenco avenues and at Gorordo and Archbishop Reyes avenues because they believe this is not the real solution to the traffic problem, but rather the widening of roads. (FREEMAN)