Clock ticks for city’s project at IEC venue

CEBU, Philippines - With two months left before the 51st International Eucharistic Congress, the Cebu City government is racing with time to implement its pending road project on Pope John Paul II Avenue, which includes removal of center island near the IEC 2016 Eucharistic Village.

The Department of Public Works and Highways-7 cannot proceed yet with the project since the city government has yet to comply with the requirements set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 before earth-balling the trees on the center island.

“Unsaon man nimo (pagsugod)? Mag-una ka og guba nga naa pa gihapon ang tanom, unsay mahitabo? You will only be creating another hazard because there is a tree and then there is no center island,” said Rama in a press conference yesterday.

The city had planned to remove some of the center islands on Pope John Paul II (formerly Juan Luna) Avenue to provide wider lanes for vehicles. The road directly leads to the IEC Pavilion, wherein around 15,000 individuals will be attending the eight-day congress.

But removing the center islands would also entail transferring at least 11 trees.

“I will have to check with traffic (Cebu City Transportation Office) because DPWH-7 is not just quick,” said Rama.

CCTO Operations Division Head Jonathan Tumulak, in a separate interview, said they have found out that the avenue needs to be improved after the two-day traffic dry run, which ended yesterday.

Rama said the DENR-7 also has to take urgent measures or considerations, especially when the city is confronted with traffic crisis not only for next year’s IEC but also for Christmas season and Sinulog Festival next year.

“I wish that matter should be felt and so we can feel DENR’s urgency. I do not know if they exist because, what took them so long (to respond on the request)?” he said.

Rama then went on to warn concerned agencies if they will not hasten the efforts on providing wider lanes or sidewalks such as those near TESDA-7 office where trees have obstructed the sidewalks.

“I don’t want to take the law in my own hands. But if (that’s the way to have) urgency then I might exercise police power,” he said.

Without Rama knowing, the DENR-7 is yet waiting for the necessary requirements of the Cebu City Parks and Playground Commission before the affected trees can be touched.

The commission had been informed of the matter through a written communication dated August 21, 2015 but it has not responded yet.

DENR-7 Spokesperson Dr. Eddie Llamedo said the city has yet to comply with three requirements, including the barangay certification stating that the concerned barangay “interposes no objection” on transferring the trees.

Further, the commission needs to submit the certification of endorsement from DPWH-7 and to conduct public hearing or consultation with environmental groups, non-government organizations, and private sectors, among others.

CCTO, for its part, conducted the dry run to check on the appropriate traffic plan to be implemented on Pope John Paul II Avenue come January 2016.

Assessing the dry run yesterday, a Monday, that ran from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Tumulak said traffic congestion was experienced at around 8:30 a.m. which is the usual peak hour.

Moderate traffic was experienced at the intersections of Cardinal Rosales Avenue and Pope John Paul II Avenue; Cardinal Rosales Avenue and Mindanao Avenue; Mindanao Avenue and Archbishop Reyes Avenue; Pope John Paul II Avenue and Archbishop Reyes Avenue.

CCTO recommended clearing the illegal structures on the sidewalks along P. Cabantan Street and putting pedestrian lane near the entrance of the IEC Pavilion.  (FREEMAN)