Request by Labangon denied 07D PUJs not allowed to use Salvador Street

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has rejected the request of Labangon barangay officials to extend the route of passenger jeepneys plying Salvador St. so these can serve more people, particularly the students.

Councilor Richard “Ritchie” Osmeña, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Traffic Management, said the argument of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) was true that allowing PUJs with route number 07D to ply to Tres de Abril St. will only create heavy traffic.

The Labangon Barangay Council led by Barangay Captain Victor Buendia suggested that the 07D PUJs from Banawa be allowed to proceed to Katipunan St., pass Salvador St., then turn right to Tres de Abril St.

From Tres de Abril St., the PUJs will turn right to F. Llamas St., turn right to Katipunan St., make their way back to Salvador Ext. and back to their destination passing by Capitol heading to Carbon market.

“The suggested route is a more plausible alternative as more people are benefited, especially the students of the schools engulfed by the route,” said Buendia in his request.

But Osmeña gave more credence to CITOM’s report that Katipunan and Tres de Abril streets are presently plied by the PUJs with route number 12L. Tres de Abril St. is only seven meters wide and allowing additional routes of PUJs in this area will congest the road.

The CITOM also said that Salvador St., connecting Tres de Abril and Katipunan streets in Barangay Labangon, is just about five meters wide and is still being used for two-way to traffic.

“Since the report of CITOM is not disputed, there being no valid reason which can justify its reversal and CITOM being the agency primarily tasked on traffic management in the city especially on technical matters, the Committee on Traffic Management should give credence to the said report,” Osmeña said.

The councilor explained that because the reason given by the barangay officials in asking to extend the route of the PUJs is that the existing route is ineffective because PUJs do not follow the route, then the problem can be addressed through effective enforcement of laws and not through amendment.

Refusal to follow the given route for PUJs is illegal and the concerned drivers can be apprehended and fined not less than P1,000 and have their driver’s license suspended for one month for the first offense.

Meanwhile, the traffic management committee also endorsed to CITOM for further study the recommendation of Taft Property, owner of Horizons 101, that there should be a skywalk constructed along Gen. Maxilom Ave. in front of their project.

Osmeña said the matter can be best addressed by CITOM which has the technical expertise on it.

Mayor Michael Rama even plans to remove some of the skywalks in the city that are not being fully used by the public. — (FREEMAN)