Gullas dismisses Rama’s threat to close SRP

CEBU, Philippines - First district Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas belittled the threat of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to close the South Road Properties to vehicular traffic from Talisay City if the Talisay City officials will not allow Cebu City from dumping its garbage in the neighboring city.

 Gullas said Rama has no business closing the SRP road to vehicle traffic because it belongs to the national government.

He said it is beyond Rama’s power to close a national road.

“In my opinion, naa man sa Local Government Code nga maka-close og roads ang mayor, only temporary. One example would be fun runs. But the SRP is a national road, and it shouldn’t be closed for the benefit of the public,” Gullas said.

Rama, however, clarified that the issue on whether or not Talisay City would allow Cebu City to dump garbage in its landfill in Barangay Tapul is out of the question.

Rama said he had already asked lawyer Jade Ponce, chairman of the Solid Waste Management Board, to set a meeting with the members of the Talisay City Council or any official concerned on the matter.

“Kailangan ta nato ang mag-estorya kay importante ang coordination sa neighboring LGUs,” Rama said.

Cebu City’s landfill in Barangay Inayawan had been closed after it has reached its maximum capacity. Rama said his plan to close SRP road is because of the series of accidents in the area.

“The possible closure of SRP is not about the garbage, this is about promoting public safety,” Rama said.

According to Rama, numerous vehicular accidents have been recorded at the SRP prompting him to consider its closure. He said that the Department of Public Works and Highways, City Traffic Operations Management, SRP Management Office, and Cebu-Bus Rapid Transit Office should come up with additional traffic regulations or else SRP will be closed to traffic.

Rama claimed that there are already over 1,000 vehicular accidents in SRP since 2010. He said that he does not want the number to keep on rising without doing something.

The most recent vehicular accident happened on Thursday where a Toyota Sedan caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle. Rama said that DPWH-7, CITOM, SRP management, and Cebu-BRT office should do something to prevent vehicular accidents from happening again.

“Accidents at SRP should be stopped. Irresponsible ta kun atong pasagdan nga daghan ang ma-aksidente didto. What we need is real consciousness labi na naay APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit, IEC (International Eucharistic Congress in 2016), ug ang ASEAN,” he said.

Earlier reports identified the areas considered as accident prone in SRP. These include El Pardo Street going to General Service Office warehouse, the baywalk near the Sugbo Building, the entrance to the viaduct near Ludo, the junction of Mambaling, and the bridge joining the cities of Cebu and Talisay.

Asked on his authority to close a national road, Rama insisted that he has police power to maintain public safety at SRP which is under his jurisdiction.

“Naa man ta’y police power para ma-address ang traffic crisis and para ma-promote ang public safety, dili nata maghuwat nga mga kaila nato ang ma-disgrasya diha,” he said.

Rama said that there will be no closure at SRP if concerned agencies will implement the necessary intervention.

   In 2005, the SRP was closed by then Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña to get back at Talisay City officials for claiming a portion of the SRP. Then Talisay City mayor Eduardo Gullas claimed that at least 54 hectares of the SRP belong to Talisay.—/FPL  (FREEMAN)