CH rejects request to limit road widening to seven meters

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has denied the request of the barangay councils of Tejero and Carreta to limit the widening of U. Alviola Street to seven meters instead of the proposed 10 meters.

City planning and development coordinator Alipio Bacalso Jr. said the joint request of the two barangays requires an amendment of the existing City Ordinance 1656.

According to Bacalso, the ordinance requires that all city roads should be 10 meters wide.

The barangay councils of Tejero and Carreta earlier requested Mayor Michael Rama to limit the widening of Alviola Street, which traverses the two barangays, to seven meters only.

In fact, the affected residents together with Carreta barangay captain Eduardo Lauron and Tejero barangay captain Jessielou Cadungog sought an audience with Rama two months ago.

They asked Rama to reconsider his plan because most of them will be affected by it. Rama wanted to widen the road and connect it to Sampaguita Street near the residential area that was hit by fire in July.

The road widening was prompted by the problems encountered by the firemen in responding the fire alarm. According to the fire department, the firefighters have difficulty in penetrating the fire scene because of the narrow access road. — (FREEMAN)