Commercial bldgs, houses to be affected : Sidewalk recovery

CEBU, Philippines — Some commercial buildings, hotels, and residential houses stand to be affected by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s order to recover the sidewalks and setbacks along Gorordo Avenue up to the Cebu Business Park.

Rama found some structures encroaching on the sidewalk and committed setback violation after walking through the area yesterday to personally observe the traffic situation in the area in line with the proposed one-way traffic scheme at the Banilad-Talamban route.

The walk-though was the mayor’s way of letting the rest of his workforce and the City Hall department heads see the reality on the ground instead of just staying in their air-conditioned offices or riding their luxury vehicles.

The mayor observed that some structures were blocking the sidewalk prompting him to order Architect Florante Catalan, head of the Office of the Building Official (OBO), to review their building permits. Rama wants to know when those structures were approved for construction and who were responsible for its approval.

He admitted that some corrupt people at City Hall were responsible for these violations. Immediate clearing of houses that were extended on the sidewalk for small businesses will be done to accommodate more pedestrians walking and free up the road for more vehicles.

Some fences that were blocking the sidewalk have already been marked by the PROBE team for demolition.

Rama has designated Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia and Councilor Franklyn Ong, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), to supervise in the identification of violators and the subsequent clearing operations.

Garcia will oversee the Barangay Kamputhaw while Ong will take charge of Barangay Luz and Mabolo. Rama said this will be a test of political will for them.

Rama, who is currently at odds with Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) chairman Joey Daluz, also wants the water district to remove their water meters from the sidewalk. The mayor found out yesterday that some water pipes and meters are obstructing the sidewalk.

Rama recently fired Daluz and installed businessman Miguelito Pato as the new chairman of MCWD board. Daluz, however, refused to step down claiming that the mayor’s action was illegal.

Daluz said that under the law only the MCWD board can fire him as chairman. The Cebu City government through City Administrator Collin Rosell has already issued a demand letter to the MCWD board compelling them to recognize Pato as the new chairman.--/FPL (FREEMAN)