Southbound commuters told to brace for worse traffic situation

CEBU, Philippines — Starting today, all southbound vehicles can no longer use the private lane beside a supermarket along F. Llamas Street.

The Cebu City Traffic Office was allowed to use the private property for eight days which lapsed yesterday.

The property is intended as parking lot for the vehicles of the supermarket’s customers.

Last March 1, Cebu City Transportation Office has closed F. Llamas Street after WT Construction Inc., contractor of the P 638-million underpass project along N. Bacalso Avenue and F. Llamas Street, proceeded to the third phase of the project.

With this, all southbound vehicles are advised to pass Caimito Street and E. Sabellano Street then back to their usual route.

In an interview, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 project engineer Roy Dela Cruz said that they coordinated with CCTO on this matter.

He said F. Llamas Street will not be accessible to all vehicles for three to four months.

CCTO operation’s chief Francisco “Isko” Ouano told The FREEMAN that the public should brace for heavy traffic considering that all vehicles can no longer access the lane beside the shopping center.

Ouano added that there are at least 12 traffic enforcers who are tasked to man the traffic in the affected area.  They will be divided into morning and afternoon shifts.

Meanwhile, the City Council has scheduled for an executive session to tackle the update of the underpass project on April 3.

Barug Team Rama affiliated councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, who resides in the south district, brought up the traffic congestion situation in the area before the other members of the city council.

The councilor sees the need to ask DPWH and the contractor on the update of the construction knowing that thousands of commuters and motorists experience heavy traffic every day.

Pesquera is asking the contractor to have a 24/7 work schedule in order to fast track the implementation of the project.

The city council agreed with Pesquera’s manifestation and invited DPWH and WT Construction Inc. to attend the scheduled executive session. (FREEMAN)