Road closure deferred

CEBU, Philippines - Closure of Sergio Osmeña Boulevard that was set to start today for a major road repair was deferred for a week following complaints from affected stakeholders.

Businessman Chester Cokaliong, SM Supermalls-Visayas region operations manager Sherry Tuvilla, and representatives of different establishments along the stretch of the road met with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday to discuss the issue.

As early as last Saturday, complaints were already raised against the closure, which starts from the section between Juan Luna St. and Gen. Maxilom Ave., as stakeholders were neither properly informed nor given ample time to prepare.

Tuvilla asked for a one-week deferment for SM to appropriately “prepare and plan,” since they were not informed even during their recent meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways-7.

“This is for the best of everybody. For all of us to really prepare for an alternative route, because not all have access roads. Kalit-kalit raman gud ni (The closure is so sudden),” Tuvilla said.

“It has really to be agreed upon by the stakeholders and the city government because many will be affected of this traffic scheme,” she added.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management Executive Director Rafael Yap said “they (stakeholders) will get what they want.”

Rama; Cokaliong, who will represent the stakeholders; DPWH-7 Director Ador Canlas; the Commission on Audit (COA); and WT Construction are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding today on the road closure, which would last for five months.

The rehabilitation of the S. Osmeña Boulevard port corridor covers a total length of 2.503 kilometers and costs the government P289 million. The road work includes removal of existing asphalt pavement and its replacement with Portland cement concrete pavement.

“Mag-start ang road rehab after the MOU signing. Pwede ra i-close half sa dalan para ma-implement dayon,” Rama said.

 â€œIt’s okay i-close going to the north while going south na road i-open lang usa so as not to create chaos,” Tuvilla said in agreeing to Rama’s proposal.

Rama said that even when one lane would be closed, the contractor would still be able to meet the target completion date, which is in November.

“Daghan may technology and equipment para madali ang trabaho,” he said.

Citom Operations Chief Joy Tumulak, on the other hand, said the project’s contract is for one year to include concreting of the entire stretch of  S. Osmeña Boulevard from the bridge near the Cebu International Port, which connects Cebu City to Mandaue City, until Palma Street near the subway.

DPWH would do the road repair phase by phase to minimize inconvenience to the riding public, motorists and stakeholders.

Tumulak, though, said the road closure would still pose a problem because Citom currently lacks manpower.

He said they needed at least 40 traffic personnel to man 14 intersections that would be affected by the road closure.

Tumulak said that while Citom has 230 field officers, all of them have their respective tasks to attend to.

“Kuwang gyud mi og tawo. Di man dayon ma-pull-out ning atong traffic enforcers kay if biyaan nila ang ilang trabaho ma-traffic pud (We lack personnel, and we cannot simply pull out our traffic enforcers from their posts because congestion would also result),” he said.

“But, if mo-cooperate ang tanan mo-follow sa traffic signages ma-manage raman ang tanan,” he added. (FREEMAN)