Bridge parking ordinance, banca ban near posts eyed

The Metro Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) asked the Mandaue City Council to pass an ordinance regulating the parking of vehicles under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

The call came after Regional Maritime Unit (RMU) 7 Chief Police Senior Supt. Eduardo Garado showed a photo of vehicles and vans that parked in the vacant lot under the bridge during a board presentation.

Garado said the parking is considered illegal since it poses security concern for the bridge.

Other resolutions agreed by the board was the prohibition of unauthorized motorized bancas and vessels from approaching the sea-lane.

Garado showed video footage of a fisherman near the sea-lane that he said is dangerous for the passing vessels and ships.

Philippine Coast Guard Central Visayas Chief Commodore Cecil Chen agreed saying the presence of bancas pose a hazard for navigators at sea.

The board likewise agreed that no vessels or persons should be allowed near the bridge posts.

Their resolution cited that no vessel should be allowed to go as near as 50 meters from the two bridge posts.

Garado said the resolutions were important to protect the “structural integrity” of the new and old bridges.

The board also agreed to renew contract of the Traffic and Security Monitoring System (TSMS) that operates several closed-circuit TV cameras on the two bridges. Their contract expires today.

The board also welcomed the entry of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Region 7 (LTFRB-7) into its ranks.  Regional LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said they will manage all the routes for both bridges.

“We will be interacting with the board to help them manage the routes from the bridge to also decongest traffic,” Cuizon told reporters.