News Briefs

Traders open to  Road REFORM

Some Cebu businessmen are willing to sit down with Road Revolution convenors  to map out plans to improve its next activity.

Samuel Chioson, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president,  said  road closures should be announced in advance to avoid public inconvenience.

“The road closures really affect the businesses. Who would want to go there if that is the case?” he said in an interview  last Friday.

“Select the date and time well so it won’t be sudden and catch people unaware. It’s difficult to go ahead and implement a plan that’s not clear and definite,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama met with Road Revolution organizers to discuss complaints of  commuters and motorists from the 12-hour closure of Colon Street last Sept. 24.

“There are so many factors to consider but we have to ask the affected sectors what they think.  It’s not fair for the businessmen,” Chioson said.

A better organized Road Revolution event was promised by organizers who apologized to the Cebuano public for Saturday’s road closures in downtown Cebu, which were only a day’s advance notice.

They said the next Road Revolution experiment on November or December will close half of Osmeña Boulevard for the pedestrians while opening the other half for public transportation. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

Sea ambulances to cover Bohol

SENATORS Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano said they will each allocate P4 million to purchase two “sea ambulances” that would service the Danajon bank in Bohol province.

Rey Martinez, Sen. Alan Cayetano’s staffer, said the ambulances will benefit indigent patients in small islands in the Visayas.

An agreement will be signed between the senators, Bohol provincial officials and a foundation for the fastcraft.

The fastcraft will also be used for search-and-rescue operations. It will be stationed near the Danajon bank.

Each ambulance will have medical equipment and cost P4 to P5 million each . Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus