CEBU, Philippines - A businessman in Minglanilla said the traffic situation in the town made him decide to run for the mayoralty seat in the next year's polls.
Alex Cañares, 58, who claimed to have a real estate business, told reporters that he tendered some proposals to Mayor Elanito Peña before regarding the traffic situation in the town, but the latter reportedly turned them down.
"Sa 2010 wala ko molansar, sa 2013 wala sab hangtod nga karong 2016 akong suwayan kay ang akong nasinati sa gawas sa nasud akong i-apply sa lungsod sa Minglanilla bahin sa traffic," said Cañares.
He said the traffic problem in Minglanilla is not only hitting those living in the town but also those residents in the provinces who would pass through Minglanilla.
He added the town’s traffic woes can negatively impact on those with businesses.
Cañares served as mayor of Minglanilla way back 1986 to 1992.
He said the town’s roads could have long been widened and access roads made if there was enough funding during his administration.
Minglanilla was fifth class municipality during Cañares term.
"Ako ning gi-suggest sa kasamtangang mayor apan unsa may iyang nabuhat? Wala," Cañares said.
He said he wanted the people of Minglanilla to know that if he will be given a chance to be the mayor again, he will try his best to get funding to widen the roads and make more access roads to ease traffic snarls.
"Unsa may ilang nabuhat? Ang pag-ayo ra sa karsada. Igo na ba lang na?" he asked.
He said the construction of the reclamation project in the town and its operation will further worsen traffic situation.
Cañares expressed his disappointment in local officials, saying they do not have a long-term goal for the town.
"Wala sila’y gihimo nga kasulbaran sa traffic kun dili sila nidungag sa problema," he said.
He also described traffic problem as a cancer which could trigger different problems in the town like peace and order and economic issues.
"So kanus-a man nato buhaton ang pagsulbad sa problema nga giatubang sa Minglanilla? Wala na’y laing panahon kun dili karon na," he stressed.
Cañares will challenge the incumbent mayor Peña in the next year's elections.
Motorists and commuters have earlier expressed their frustration over the traffic congestion in the town which is caused by an ongoing road rehabilitation works of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The contractor for the project has been given until December 15 to finish the road repairs.
The FREEMAN visited Peña’s office yesterday but he was not available for comment. (FREEMAN)