CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has called on national agencies concerned to help make the South Coastal Road a safer thoroughfare and not a “killer road.”
This was after a car driven by Rustico Bas, a seaman, smashed into a prime mover truck at the South Road Properties Sunday, resulting to his death and that of his four passengers.
Rama, who is in Japan but granted Cebu media an online interview, reiterated his appeal for the Department of Public Works and Highways to set up additional road measures, like the installation of more lampposts along the freeway and placing speed control measures like rumble stripes, reflectorized road markings, and flashing “caution” lights.
He said warning signs in different areas should be very visible for motorists.
The mayor also asked the Land Transportation Office to increase visibility of its personnel at the SRP so as to better impose the 40 kilometers per hour speed limit.
“Dapat ang LTO mobutang og tawo diha sa SRP. Ngano adto man gyud sila sa areas nga dili accident-prone areas? Dapat dili sila matulog dakpon nila kadtong nag-overspeeding,” Rama said.
He said LTO personnel would augment Cebu City Traffic Operations Management enforcers already deployed and keeping watch over the SRP 24 hours a day.
“It has been my marching order there for them (traffic enforces) to be ubiquitous because I don’t wish the coastal road end up as a killing road or running coffin,” he said.
He also emphasized that the “two-car distance” rule should also be strictly enforced to prevent accidents just in case the driver ahead suddenly steps on the brakes.
Rama said he will not hesitate to exercise his police powers if both the DPWH and the LTO would not institute measures to secure the public not only at SRP but in other areas noted to have rising cases of vehicular incidents.
“Inig-balik nako mosugod sila og dili I will exercise my police power tangtangon nang mga tanom (on the center island) to enforce and provide safety and security for the public. Bahala’g ikiha ko nila,” he said.
He is currently attending the third United Nations World Conference in Japan and is expected to be back in Cebu either this Thursday or Friday.
Rama earlier said that they should not be complacent, considering that over 1,000 vehicular accidents have occurred at SRP since 2010.
He identified the accident-prone areas as El Pardo Street going to city General Service Office warehouse, the baywalk near the Sugbo Building, the mouth of the viaduct near Ludo & Luym, the Mambalig junction, and the bridge joining the neighboring cities of Cebu and Talisay.
Sought for comment, Land Transportation Office-7 Officer-in-charge Arnel Tancinco said they are still waiting for a copy of the report from traffic investigators so as to determine who should be penalized over the accident.
“Wala pa mi nakadawat. Maghuwat pa mi sa police report nila kay didto mi magbasi sa kon unsay facts nilang makuha,” he said in a telephone interview yesterday.
“We have to look at it (official report) first before we can take action, as far as the vehicle is concerned (before imposing penalties),” he added. – /RHM (FREEMAN)