Mandaue’s traffic woes worse than Cebu City’s

CEBU, Philippines- While traffic in Cebu City is “manageable” upon the resumption of road works along S. Osmeña Boulevard, neighboring Mandaue City is experiencing heavy traffic as a result of rerouting being implemented at the North Reclamation Area.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management Executive Director Rafael Yap said that congestion was felt in Mandaue City several days after the rerouting plan went into effect.

“It is unfortunate that Mandaue City is suffering the brunt of traffic impact, but this is simply reality. We (Mandaue City and Cebu City) both agreed that roads need to be repaired. We both agreed that it is an urgent necessity. We both agreed that it is for APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation),” Yap said.

He admitted that there is a need for coordination between the traffic organizations of the two cities.

Yap said that in particular, bottlenecks were observed at the portion of Ouano Avenue near the Aboitiz Football Field.  He begged for the public to bear with inconvenience, as the road repair would eventually translate to more benefits to Cebu City later on.

He identified the rehabilitation of S. Osmeña Boulevard as a “high priority” project not only by Department of Public Works and Highways but also by the Cebu City government.

“In the meantime, we can ask the motorists to avoid the area,” he said, suggesting that they could proceed to the Banilad-Talamban area and use road away from the NRA.

Mayor Michael Rama, on the other hand, said he would lay off from suggesting anything to address traffic in Mandaue City as a result of the rehabilitation of S. Osmeña.

“Mandaue traffic is a Mandaue concern. Our traffic is our concern. Why do we have to be the concerned of (traffic in) Mandaue? I have been removing islands to address traffic (problems), I do not know what Mandaue is doing,” he said. (FREEMAN)