Salinas drive, Sidewalk cleared of illegal structures

CEBU, Philippines -  Illegal structures have been removed yesterday from the sidewalk along Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug.

Prevention Restoration Order and Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) personnel from Cebu City Hall cleared the sidewalk from the flyover at Archbishop Reyes Avenue up to the entrance of the IT Park of any public nuisance following several complaints.

There was no reported resistance from the people who illegally used the sidewalk for business like carenderia. There were water vending machines installed on the sidewalk and dining tables of a carenderia.

Probe head Raquel Arce said they have warned the people living along the sidewalk to stop using the pedestrian lane for business.

Under the law, roads and sidewalks are beyond the “commerce of man” and any obstacles found therein can be removed immediately even without orders from the court for being considered public nuisance.

Arce said she received numerous complaints from the public and motorists against the illegal structures along Salinas Drive. Arce said she personally visited the place last Monday and advised the people taking advantage of the sidewalk to stop their illegal activities.

No less than Mayor Michael Rama had encouraged the Probe team to restore the sidewalk in the area to prevent road accident. The mayor is even supportive of the impending road widening project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the area.

DPWH district engineer Nicomedes Leonor said he already informed Portia Baquita, the acknowledged leader of the affected residents in the area, of the violation they have committed against the provisions of the National Building Code. —(FREEMAN)