Citom, LTFRB asked to make new traffic plan on S.Osmeña Blvd

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has requested the City Traffic Operations and Management and Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board to modify or create a new traffic scheme along Sergio Osmeña Boulevard.

Councilor Alvin Arcilla said S. Osmeña Boulevard has now been experiencing heavy traffic since the Qimonda IT Center at the North Reclamation Area that houses 22 RTC branches and major road repair of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) started last week.

Arcilla, who authored the request, said the modified traffic scheme or new route would bring convenience to the riding public and members of the judiciary plying along the boulevard.

“Citom and LTFRB were requested to study and implement the possibility of modifying an existing route or creating a route that will serve to provide the public, court employees, litigants and other stakeholders of an adequate, convenient and safe transportation to and from the Qimonda IT center to connect with other routes and/or terminals,” Arcilla said.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno has ordered all courts to transfer to Qimonda due to security risk.

For several months, judges and court personnel had been holding office in tents outside the Palace of Justice after the Hall of Justice was declared not fit for occupancy following the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Oct.15.

“The court workers and other stakeholders expressed their concerns that Qimonda building is not easily accessible since only a few jeepneys pass by the area and that they feel unsafe due to incidents of robbery and theft at NRA,” he said.

He stressed that the city must find ways to address the concerns of the court personnel as part of “moral obligation” of the city government.

Some RTC personnel earlier complained about Quimonda’s security, for instance, a taxicab rammed into one of the flagpoles inside the compound and reported notorious incidents in the area, like robbery.

This, the council as well requested the Cebu City Police Office “to conduct regular patrols and improve police visibility at the vicinity and neighboring areas of Qimonda along S. Osmena Blvd. in consideration of the nature of work that the courts are involved”.

Meanwhile, City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon is asking Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama a portion of Malacañang sa Sugbo near City Hall as their temporary workplace.

“It would also be for the best interest of the public service if sizable portion of the building will be made available for use as the temporary work station of Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office until such time the Palace of Justice building will be ready for occupancy again,” Sellon said.

Also, the prosecutor’s office sought the help of the city government  in their monthly electric bills.

“We honestly feel that this should not be a heavy burden to the city coffers for the reason that the prosecutor’s office is even an ally in the enforcement of all city ordinances and in the prosecution of offenders,” he said. (FREEMAN)