Rama fumes over DPWH project sans traffic plan

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was disgusted when he saw two container vans to be used for a road repair project already placed along the Katipunan Road infront of the San Nicolas church.

Rama had requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last Wednesday to defer implementation of any public works projects in the city without coordinating with City Hall and instituting a traffic management plan.

He said the container vans of a DPWH contractor occupy almost two lanes of the road, disrupting traffic flow even before the actual road improvement project could start.

Rama said he already directed the City Integrated Traffic Operation Management (Citom) to communicate with the DPWH to especially call their attention on the unauthorized use of city roads by one of their contractors.

The container vans should be removed and the DPWH contractor should rent a space outside the road because they are obstructing traffic, he said.

The mayor earlier asked DPWH to put on hold the implementation of road improvement projects in barangay Guadalupe, along V. Rama Avenue, M. Velez Street, Katipunan Street., Tres de Abrial and from the Pasil bridge to fish market area.

Accompanied by personnel of the engineering department and Citom, Rama inspected the proposed project sites late Wednesday afternoon.

Prior to the inspectionRama appealed to the DPWH during his noontime press conference yesterday not to be defiant and instead heed his order to temporarily suspend road improvement implementation unless given a go signal by his office.

Rama said now is not yet the time to start any road improvement projects because Citom is still working on its traffic rerouting plans.

“The mayor would like to communicate to all of them that no civil works will commence until deliberated and until an incisive discussion is done by the stakeholders,” Rama said.

why repair?

While inspecting the San Nicolas road, Rama wondered loudly why the DPWH is working on the roads there when he saw no defects.

He said that the road surrounding the Guadalupe church for example is still in good shape.

“Ug mo agi ka didto maglibog ka nganong gub on nila ang dan,” Rama said.

(If you pass by there, you will be confused why they are destroying the road.)

“Why fix it when it ain’t broken?” he added.

Rama said that even V. Rama Avenue and M. Velez Street still don’t need road repair.

He said that it would be best to first complete the widening of a portion of M. Velez Street located beside the Provincial Capitol before the rest of the road should be cemented.

DPWH wanted to remove asphalt from the road and replace this with cement.

Rama said he was told that funding for the road improvement projects in the city’s south district will be taken from realigned funds supposedly intended for the proposed flyover near Sudlon, Lahug.

He however admitted he is not privy to the actual project cost.

Rama said that while DPWH has already identified roads in the south district for rehabilitation, it may be best for them to reconsider their decision.

He said that roads in the northern part of the city like Kaohsiung Street and other roads at the North Reclamation Area and those in barangay Pit-os badly need repairs.

If more funding is still available, Rama said it should be used for widening N. Bacalso Avenue, the Tagonol Road, the Banilad Road and the Buhisan Road.

Rama said DPWH should also consider spending on drainage improvement projects which the city badly needs.