Brgy opposes new traffic scheme

CEBU, Philippines - Citing hazardous impact to the public, Barangay Cogon-Central Ramos, Cebu City is opposing to the newly-imposed two-way and parallel parking policies along F. Ramos Street and Gen. Echavez Extension.

Barangay officials submitted a resolution to the Cebu City Council “vehemently opposing” the traffic schemes.

Since January 4, 2015, under then executive director Victor Caindec, City Traffic Operations Management has started implementing the parallel parking policy along F. Ramos Street and Gen. Echavez Ext. and the two-way scheme along Gen. Echavez Ext.

“The implementation of the new policies was done without proper coordination with the barangay and without getting necessary inputs from the residents in the vicinity,” the barangay resolution reads.

The barangay officials said citation tickets were issued to several vehicles, including those of the barangay.

They added that the new traffic policies pose risk to the residents especially to the children who are crossing the street.

“The new two-way policy and the new parking policy are posing safety hazards to the residents of the area especially since the one-way policy had been in place for more than a decade,” the resolution further reads.

Current CITOM executive director lawyer Rafael Yap has confirmed receiving the barangay’s letter, adding he has endorsed it to the Office of the City Mayor, which then directed Caindec to implement the traffic schemes.

In the meantime, Yap said, CITOM is implementing mitigating measures on those roads such as putting up pavement marking and pedestrian lane at General Echavez Ext. to address the barangay’s concerns.

For F. Ramos Street, CITOM has placed a junction box hoping that motorists will follow the traffic rules to avoid accidents, Yap added. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/NSA (FREEMAN)