Labella hits back at Osmeña

CEBU, Philippines — The soft-spoken, well-mannered vice mayor of Cebu City is now up to the challenge of trading barbs with the outspoken Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella lashed back at Osmeña after the latter questioned his ability to help out in providing solutions to the perennial problems of the city.

“Mayor Tom, you are the Mayor of Cebu City, not me. In fact, you've been mayor of Cebu City since 1988 and traffic (aside from flood and garbage problems) is only getting worse,” he said.

Osmeña earlier hit Labella for blaming the monstrous traffic experienced by the public on N. Bacalso Avenue and F. Llamas Street on him. The mayor said his vice mayor should help out instead of pointing fingers at him because he is also an elected official.

Osmeña  said Labella has been an elected official of Cebu City for 15 years already and he reportedly hasn’t done anything for the city.

Despite their seeming word war, Labella promised to support  the state of emergency declaration that Osmeña wants from the council to address the traffic congestion on N. Bacalso. The declaration is needed to allow Public Utility Jeepneys at the Cebu South Coastal Road.

Labella said that once a resolution is presented before the City Council, Barug- Partido  Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (Barug- PDP-Laban) members will look into the matter.

“As vice mayor, I am always ready to help out if it's for the good of the city. Even if the Mambaling underpass project was hastily implemented (without comprehensive traffic impact study), thus causing unbearable traffic in the area. I will fully support the executive department to solve this crisis,” he said.

Labella said the traffic congestion experienced by commuters and motorists on  N. Bacalso Avenue and F. Llamas Street should be addressed with a concerted effort.

“The crisis is so serious that no one can claim to solve it by himself single handedly. All of us must work together,” he said.

Meanwhile, all types of vehicles, except motorcycles, can already use the access road within the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of  Lourdes during peak hours. Tumulak said the church started to open the access road last Monday evening.

Tumulak, chairman of the committee on public order and safety, asked the church officials’ help to address the traffic problem in the area. He said the parish has approved his request. The church officials, however, requested that motorcycles will not be allowed to pass the area and blowing of horns is prohibited. (FREEMAN)