Park used as parking area: Ban vs high-risk trucks under bridge mulled

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna has tasked the City Council's committee on Transportation to study if there is legal basis to prohibit trucks carrying flammable materials and other high-risk vehicles from parking under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

This was after the Umapad barangay council passed a resolution that barred heavy equipment and vehicles carrying volatile materials from parking under the bridge at the area within the barangay's jurisdiction.

In the resolution sponsored by Councilman Reb Cortes, Umapad's officials said they were concerned because of the number of high-risk vehicles that regularly park under the bridge.

During the City Council session last Wednesday, Fortuna agreed with the Umapad officials, corroborating the observation on the presence of the trucks.

Fortuna, during the council session last Wednesday afternoon, shared the observation of Umapad barangay council, noting the presence of the trucks especially during the hours when they are banned from plying the city streets.

"Most of them are delivery trucks parked under the bridge ilabi na kung truck ban. Nahimo na hinuon nga parking area ang ubos sa bridge," the vice mayor said.

He said the area is supposedly a family park, which a joint effort of the Mandaue City government and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The family park was established in 2013 during the time of then mayor Jonas Cortes, as he wanted the park to represent an enhanced community development in the city, where families can unwind without worrying how much they should spend and where foreign and domestic tourists, especially those coming from the airport, can also drop by.

The park is opened early morning to accommodate joggers and is kept open to the public until 10 p.m.  It is the second park in the city next to the small Heritage Park fronting the City Hall. (FREEMAN)