Dad: Osmeña’s bickering with LTO “just an excuse”

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City opposition councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia says Mayor Tomas Osmeña is “trying to make an excuse” in solving the traffic congestion in the south district by having an online spat with Land Transportation Office-7 Regional Director Victor Caindec.

“The mayor is just trying to find an excuse and try to cover for his incompetence, kana para nako. Sakto gyud na, he cannot solve the traffic problem in the city especially in Mambaling.  Nangita nalang gyud na siya og excuse and he is trying to blame and point fingers kay dili naman gyud niya kaya,” he told reporters yesterday.

Recently, Osmeña and Caindec had a heated exchange of words over social media criticizing each other about their scope of work in the city.

Their conflict started when Osmeña said that he will file legal charges against LTO-7 officials for the failure to process the registration of motorcycles and vehicles on time.

Caindec lashed back at the mayor by condemning the traffic situation in the south specifically in Barangay Mambaling.

With this, Osmeña pulled out the traffic aides last July 16, but reinstalled them on the following day.

The monstrous traffic in the south occurred due to the ongoing construction of underpass project along N. Bacalso Avenue.

Garcia said under the law, LTO-7 is not responsible in managing the traffic situation; it is the main role of the city government.

“Unsa ma’y labot gud tawn sa LTO sa pagsulbad sa traffic sa siyudad sa sugbo? Kung tan-awon nimo ang balaod ang LTO is limited to car registration, issuing of licenses, among others. Wala gyu’y nakabutang dinha nga in charge siya og traffic,” he said.

Osmeña earlier said that he pulled out the traffic enforcers so that LTO-7 can take over after Caindec wants to show to him how he would solve the traffic dilemma.

Councilor Joel Garganera said Osmeña is good in accusing others for his mistakes.

“That is always been the talent of the mayor, always pointing an accusing finger. But for every accusing finger, Mr. Mayor, there are three fingers pointing back at you. So from the very beginning that is a very stupid project,” he said.

Garganera is among the city officials who are against the construction of underpass project because the roads were not widened and the alternate routes were dilapidated.

On July 16, 2018, Caindec wrote a letter to Department of the Interior and Local Government looking for answers whether or not Osmeña’s move is acceptable, delegating the traffic to LTO-7.

Osmeña, for his part, told The FREEMAN said that he was just responding to Caindec’s claim that he can address the horrendous traffic in the south.

“He (Caindec) said ‘I will show you!’ in the interest of public welfare.  I responded ‘why not?’ PALPAK,” Osmeña said. — GAN (FREEMAN)