CITOM wants demolition of illegal structures along Kamagong Street

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) has endorsed before the City Council to clear J. Solon Drive of the illegal structures constructed along the road to give way to vehicular traffic.

CITOM executive director Rafael Christopher Yap had already sent a copy of the inspection report prepared by traffic enforcers Bernard Jamorol and Rosario Dosdos.

The City Council earlier requested CITOM to look into the complaints of several motorists about the illegal structures along the road which has causing obstruction to the flow of traffic in the area.

Based on the inspection conducted by CITOM, the J. Solon Drive formerly known as Kamagong Street which original width is 10-meters is now only 5.3 meters wide. The road is slowly becoming narrow because of the city government and the barangay officials failure to prevent illegal construction.

Because of the traffic obstruction, CITOM was prompted to convert what was supposed to be a two-way road into one-way from corner Rosal Street to Archbishop Reyes Avenue where Lahug-bound vehicles from Archbishop Reyes Avenue are required to proceed to Rosal Street first before making a left to J. Solon Drive.

The Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division (SPEED) had already cleared the structures built on the road and CITOM officials have installed traffic signs in the area but the signs were stolen.

Yap said a provision of City Ordinance 1360 or the Revised Road Details for Cebu City provides that “all established roads right-of-way should be free of any obstructions whether temporary, permanent or rolling.”

“Hence, inasmuch as our concern is for traffic safety, the roadway obstructions along J. Solon Drive shall be removed to give way for the vehicular traffic passing in the area and appropriate traffic signs such as no parking and no stopping anytime should be installed to clear the road from obstacles,” the CITOM letter reads.

The City Council has decided to endorse the latter to the mayor’s office for prompt action because several motorists are clamoring that the city will finally improve the condition of such road to decongest Gorordo Avenue. — (FREEMAN)