Road closure threatens to isolate 4 barangays

CEBU, Philippines - The city government has temporarily closed the road bordering the mountain barangays Agsungot and Binaliw that leads to Barangay Guba due to the portions that caved in that have rendered it dangerous for passing vehicles.

A resolution was passed in the City Council last week declaring the temporarily closure of the road until necessary repairs are undertaken.

The Council also requested the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) to install road barriers and signage(s).

In a resolution, Councilor Alvin Arcilla, the district councilor of the affected barangays, said the temporary closure is urgent because the road continues to erode and collapse on its side. A river flows parallel to the road.

Meanwhile, in Barangay Guba, half of the road’s width has reportedly collapsed toward the ravine on its side.

“The said road may be temporarily be closed to vehicular traffic in order to prevent injury, the loss of life or property and also to allow the repair and construction to proceed with dispatch and unimpeded for the entirety of the road repair until such time the DEPW (Department of Engineering and Public Works) renders the same safe and serviceable to traffic,” the resolution reads.

The road is an access road to Binaliw, Agsungot, Mabini and Paril.

The suggested alternative route to get to Guba, Binaliw, Agsungot, Mabini and Paril is through the Pit-os – Pulangbato – Guba route, but CITOM, DEPW and officials of affected barangays are yet to meet to discuss and decide on the most suitable detour or alternative route to minimize public inconvenience.

The Council asked DEPW to hasten the repair because councilors fear that the barangay may be trapped or isolated due to the road closure.

They also fear that the road closure might affect the operations of the hospital in Barangay Guba in terms of medical emergencies. Patients that need extensive medical attention need to be transported to the Cebu City Medical Center in the city proper. — (FREEMAN)