Pedestrians, bikers to rule Osmena Blvd. on June 12 to launch ‘Road Revolution’
A 2.5-KILOMETER stretch of road passing through the heart of Cebu City will be closed to motorists on Sunday, June 12.
Ecology advocates will declare their fight for “freedom from pollution” to launch a nationwide “ Road Revolution”
Environment lawyer and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Antonio Oposa said Osmeña Boulevard will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday to make way for bikers, runners, skaters and other sports enthusiasts to enjoy the city’s streets.
There will be a “freedom walk”, biking and aerobic exercises along the boulevard which stretches from the Capitol Building to the Plaza Independencia.
Private vehicles, taxis and jeepneys will have to take alternative routes that day.
“It will be freedom from oil and air pollution. This will be a movement of the people,” Oposa said in a press conference yesterday.
He said he and other environmentalists will turn over more than 10,000 signatures supporting an ordinance to reconstruct city roads with sidewalks, bike lanes, gardens and collective transportation.
He cited Sections 120-127 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code, which states that it would need only 1,000 registered voters in cities,100 voters in municipalities to initiate a petition for the city council to propose or amend an ordinance.
The petition to reform the road system will seek the allocation of 30 percent of the road to pedestrians, 30 percent to bike riders, 30 percent to collective transportation and 10 percent to road gardens.
They also plan to introduce a non-fuel mo torized vehicle that can carry up to 60 passengers.
The renewable minitrain made by Brian Yuson from Saint James Academy of Skills Technology Inc. will be the first Filipino-made train to be powered by solar and wind energy, said Oposa.
The minitrain will have a body and roof made of wood, with lighting systems, solar panels and foot pedals.
Since Cebu has no railroads, the vehicle will have wheels for now.
Lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos of the Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) said her group will ask the Metro Cebu Airshed Board to conduct air sampling starting today until next week to provide data on the air quality of Cebu.
She said they hope to make it a regular Sunday event so that Cebuanos can enjoy the streets and a healthier lifestyle.
Meanwhile, lawyer Tara Rama, project coordinator of the Road Revolution project, said stalls of organic produce will be up for sale along the road. Aerobics and other exercise routines will also be conducted.
A Freedom Walk and bike ride will start from the Capitol to Plaza Independencia, where the petition for transport reform will be turned over to the members of the Cebu City Council.
“Our current system is not sustainable. There needs to be a paradigm shift,” Rama told a press conference.
Rafael Yap, executive officer of the City Traffic Operation Management, said notices of traffic rerouring will be issued today for the June 12 event.
Yap said Osmeña Boulevard will be closed from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. that day.
