Citom apprehends cars on 'beautified sidewalk'

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management apprehended 20 private vehicles caught parking on the beautified sidewalk along Osmeña Boulevard.

 “Great! Alleluia!”

This was the reaction of Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, chairperson of the Beautiful Cebu Movement Foundation Inc.

“We are very happy that the city government is implementing the law. They have been extra lenient in the past. But they saw the abuse being done to our beautification work and they, too, felt the sadness that some people just don’t care of the hard work of the concerned citizens,” she said. 

 Yeung has been appealing to Cebuanos not to park their vehicles on the sidewalk as this will destroy the bricks.

“Please do your share and cooperate with us in making our beloved city clean and beautiful,” said Yeung.

Yeung initially donated P1 million but she could no longer count the total donations she has made just to complete the beautification project.

“Di na lang ko mag hunahuna kung pila na ang akong na donate. I am appealing lang gyud sa atong fellow Cebuanos nga intawon ayaw mo pag-park sa inyong mga sakyanan sa sidewalk,” she said.

Joy Tumulak, CITOM assistant executive director said apprehended vehicles were all “four-wheels”, three were clamped while 17 were issued citation tickets.

Each violator has to pay a fine of P500 and also settle pending violations if they have any.CITOM chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem said he already ordered traffic personnel to be vigilant especially during nighttime.

 Jakosalem said considering that they have a limited personnel, they will first concentrate on the Osmeña Boulevard area.

 The foundation has already completed 95 percent of the beautification project.

Yeung said it is Mayor Michael Rama’s desire to beautify the sidewalk for the safety of the old people and the children alike and for them to walk without fear of meeting accidents along the way.

“Mayor Rama envisioned this sidewalk for all pedestrians to enjoy walking or strolling with their family freely. But how can they when it is the vehicle owners who are using it as their garage?” she said.

Yeung thanked Rama and Jakosalem for implementing the law.

“I thank the Citom for their courage to do what is right,” she said

 The foundation is non-political and non-profit. In February of this year, it held a Masquerade Ball that earned at least P10million, for the beautification project, which includes lighting the trees, installing lamp posts and putting bricks on the sidewalks from Sanciangko St. up to the Capitol area.

 The Cebu City Government has no counterpart in this multi-million restoration project. Yeung’s team is composed of equally enthusiastic ladies of Cebu coming from the different sectors.

 Yeung said beautifying the entire stretch from Fuente Osmeña to Sanciangko Street, needs to be done in time for the Blessed Pedro Calungsod Thanksgiving ceremonies on November 30, 2012.

 “The world will have an eye for Cebu during this event. The celebration will be bigger than Sinulog,” Yeung said. — /MBG (FREEMAN)