El Filibusterismo Street reopens to traffic

CEBU, Philippines - After a month of undergoing repair, El Filibusterismo Street was reopened to the public yesterday.

Ambulant vendors are also allowed back to sell their goods along the road from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Michael Rama, City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete, City Administrator Lucelle Mercado, and Raquel Arce, chief of the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement team, marked the road’s reopening.

El Filibusterismo Street is now 10 meters wide including the newly built canals on both sides.

The street lies next to Sitio Warwick-Barracks that caught fire in January, which has prompted the city government to clear and repair both areas.

The newly-asphalted road is open to vehicles 24 hours but half of it is limited to vendors during night time, said Arce.

The ambulant vendors will sell their goods alongside with the vendors occupying the newly-built stalls.

The city government, which is now working on the revitalization of Carbon Market, recently turned over these stalls to qualified vendors so they can resume their livelihood.

Rama said he intends to finish his other projects in the area by June 12, including the parking area in Taboan Public Market and the Magellan’s Park.

The mayor is also focusing on the construction of a drainage system in Barangay Carreta and the widening of road beside Carreta Elementary School, among others.   (FREEMAN)