Village officials clarify plan to close road

CEBU, Philippines - The intention of barangay Linao officials to temporarily close a 3-kilometer stretch of a dilapidated road is to rehabilitate it without any help from the city, which they claimed has ignored calls for its repair.

Barangay Linao captain Ofelia Ylanan yesterday showed a copy of her letter addressed to the city government dated February 3, which shows her request for the asphalting of Logarta Street to Pajo Street, San Miguel, Lower Linao.

"Residents and passers-by, especially school children, are inconvenienced when traversing this road because of the potholes," Ylanan said.

The three-kilometer road stretches from the national highway to the Talisay City Jail in barangay Maghaway, and ends at the Talisay City Sanitary Landfill in barangay Tapul.

Ylanan said the road is full of potholes and the city government has not taken steps to improve it.

"Kay wala ma'y action ang siyudad, so nagkasinabot ming mga opisyales nga kami na lang ang mo pasemento sa mga lubak-lubak nga kalsada. Aron ma-sementohan, syempre among i-temporary close ang road," Ylanan said.

But city legal officer Owen Algoso said they will check if the barangay has jurisdiction over the closure of the road.

If the plan pushes through, a six-wheeler dump truck will have to pass at the Lawa-an road.

But Ylanan said the city government has reportedly ignored her request for political reasons.

Ylanan is identified with the opposition.  (FREEMAN)