CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has directed for the implementation of temporary jeepney routes at the South Road Properties (SRP) just in time for the hosting of Palarong Pambansa and to cater to the displaced families of clearing operations.
Rama previously released his marching order to the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) to sit down with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) - 7 and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) – 7 on having temporary jeepney routes at SRP.
Yesterday in a press conference, Rama said that he is hopeful that the said agencies would focus on this matter as the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa is fast approaching.
According to Rama, as the hosting of the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet 2024 was catered to with the deployment of buses, he would want the Palarong Pambansa to be more accessible with Public Utility Vehicles (PUV). Rama said that it would be more convenient for the PUVs to ply at the SRP.
Just like the CVIRAA, the closing ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa is set to be held at the SRP.
“The closing would be so huge. Hence, they have to be more, continuously, ready so that the time will come then it’s over, we will all be in the state of jubilation sharing all amazement,” said Rama.
Rama further said that the jeepney routes shall be implemented “as soon as possible.” However, he highlighted that this will be “temporary” pending the completion of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT), a mass transport system.
Although the SRP was originally planned as an expressway, Rama said the presence of PUVs in the area is not a threat to the commuters.
Last May 5, 2024, a woman died at the SRP last when she was run over by a trailer truck while she tried to cross the road.
According to Rama, it has been a while now since he instructed to implement a speed limit within the SRP stretch.
“Di naman na unta mulabang sa dalan, naa naman nay island. Unya aron di to maing-adto magbuhat tag railings, both sides, naay railings,” said Rama.
In a separate interview, CCTO head Raquel Arce said that they will be studying the mayor’s order. She, however, added that the SRP is no longer being treated as an expressway due to the presence of establishments in the area.
It was also reported that to fully cater to displaced families, Rama said he would be directing the discussion on the possibility of having jeepney routes enter SRP. This is after the relocation site is being eyed to rise at the SRP, Cebu City Quarantine Center (CCQC), and Reclamation Area.
“We are also studying that possibility nga tagaan nato og rota atong SRP so naa ron to sa pag tuon atong opisina sa planning division,” said Arce.
She added that this study includes the placements of pedestrians alongside the plans to regulate the traffic flow.
Circling back to the accident that led to the death of a woman at the SRP, Arce said SRP should not have pedestrians.
“Dira sya sa center, nilabang sya padung sa right side facing sa northbound,” said Arce.
In line with this, Arce reminds pedestrians to refrain from crossing the bridge to prevent a similar accident from happening again.
Further, as more fatal accidents are recorded along the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) and SRP, CCTO is reminding motorcycle drivers to stick to their designated lane or face the consequences.
The CCTO has provided a “motorcycle lane” due to the number of fatal accidents that involve two-wheeled vehicles at the SRP for the past months, yet there are still a lot of drivers who do not use them.
“Nagbutang nami og signages gikan sa Talisay all the way sa viaduct nga nagpahimangno sa atong mga motorcycle drivers nga mogamit sa rightmost lane tungod sa kadaghan nga fatal accidents diha sa SRP,” Jounald Bautista, CCTO assistant operations head said through the Sugboanon channel.
Traffic enforcers have also been deployed at the CSCR since last month to guide motorcycle drivers to use the rightmost lane while plying to and from Cebu City.
Aside from the CSCR, CCTO also placed traffic cones at the rightmost lanes to and from F. Vestil St. for motorcycle drivers who want to travel to the SRP from Barangay Mambaling as per the city’s news and information team.
This time, motorcycle drivers have already been warned that traffic enforcers will not hesitate to issue citation tickets should they refuse to use their designated lane.
Aside from accident prevention, the designated lane aims at keeping motorcycles from cutting off other vehicles.
“Ang mga drivers sa four-wheels nga sakyanan nang-reklamo nga ang mga drivers sa motorsiklo magpataka lang sad og suksuk nga diin makasamot na hinoon sa kalangan usahay ug kahasol,” said Corazon “Sonnie” Yrog-yrog, RMA Traffic Education Section head.
“Kahibaw gyud ta nga during rush hours, puros gadali (ang mga motorista). Pero again, kabahin gyud na sa pagpahapsay sa atong dalan ang pagpatuman kung unsay angay ipatuman… Cooperation lang gyud sa ta, atong kaigsuonan motorcycle drivers, kay para ra na sa inyong safety,”Yrog-Yrog added. — (FREEMAN)