Accident injures four in Banilad

Yet another case was built by officials opposed to the pending flyover projects in Cebu City yesterday.

Sylvan Jakosalem, executive chairman of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom), said a sports utility vehicle hit a flyover lane divider in barangay Banilad last Saturday night.

“The accident only goes to show the danger of flyovers without the necessary warning signs or even just high visibility reflectors,” Jakosalem told Cebu Daily News.

Though the accident wasn’t blottered, one of the residents took a photo of what happened and posted it in the Facebook account of the Movement for Liveable Cebu (MLC), formerly known as the Stop Flyover Movement.

The passengers identified as Mary Ann Mendoza of Punta Princessa, Jesus Montellano of Lapu-Lapu City and Honorio Coronel of Cotabato City were later discharged from the North General Hospital.

“We are still investigating if the driver was drinking or not,” said Citom director Rafael Yap.

The passengers were rescued by the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF).

Jakosalem said they have been requesting the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for a reflector in accident prone areas like the flyover in Banilad.

He said their requests were always denied by the agency, which cited financial constraints.

He said the flyovers and national highways are maintained by the DPWH which means signage, lightings, and road maintenance should be shouldered by the agency.

“I’m kinda upset. Everytime we do some little requests like that they always say there is no budget. But they have a budget for two more flyovers,” Jakosalem said.

The proposed flyover projects along Gorordo Avenue and M.J. Cuenco Avenue were suspended by the DPWH pending the resolution of the concerns raised by various groups in the city.

Jakosalem said the Citom had pointed out these deficiencies ever since the projects were discussed.

He said the flyover in Banilad is dangerous compared to other flyovers because of the bridge over the Mahiga creek located just a few meters away.

“It’s dangerous particularly for those who are unfamiliar with the road because the flyover could not be seen if you are coming from the bridge (north bound),” he said.

He said there is also inadequate lighting in that area which makes it more dangerous for the motorists.

A nearby resident who requested anonymity said several accidents in the same area happened since the flyover was finished.

The DPWH Cebu City District Engineering Office said they will institute preventive measures to avoid vehicular accidents in that area. But Citom Yap remains unconvinced.

“DPWH should’ve provided those markings. after all, that is their infrastructure. Taking the Mambaling flyover for example, there are no markings that can be seen and they only rely on the contractors or the local government units.” Yap said.

He said reflectorized signs could have helped the drivers become aware of what lies ahead of them as they speed towards the flyover.

“Definitely the possibility for accidents is always there. The best thing that we could do is to minimize it,” he said.

Yap said the DPWH should include in their plans and programs safety markings and early warning devices for their flyovers.

“It should be part of their (flyover) projects,” he said. Marian Z. Codilla, Reporter with Correspondent Edison delos Angeles