‘Motorcycle riders should help this time’
Drivers of motorcycle taxis are urged to be of assistance, instead of taking advantage of the inconvenience caused by the ongoing construction of a P638-million underpass project on N. Bacalso Ave. in Cebu City.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters said he had received reports about motorcycle taxi drivers allegedly imposing overpriced fare rates to the riding public.
“Actually, I saw one who refused to receive a fare of P20 for a 2.4-km. drive. He asked for P50 and I think that’s too much. We’re asking them to please don’t take this as an opportunity, but as a chance to assist our passengers. We also ask the public to make contingency plans,” he told reporters.
Starting yesterday morning, the southbound lane, particularly from the corner of F. Llamas St. near a fast food chain will be closed to traffic for the next three months.
Tumulak, who is also a south district resident, said that from 6 a.m. to 12 noon yesterday, the area had heavy traffic.
The ongoing civil works left several northbound passengers, most of whom workers, stranded and late for work.
Tumulak said there was an initial plan to deploy City Government buses to ferry stranded passengers, but it was deemed wise not to push through with it.
“If we deploy the buses, the workers in the nearby malls will still have to walk a few meters as the vehicles will have to be stationed in Caimito St. If we let them walk that short distance, that will still impose danger to the pedestrians. I saw that it was difficult and would not make a difference,” he said.
To decongest traffic, the councilor advised residents of Barangays Kinasang-an, Poblacion Pardo and Bulacao who have private vehicles to take the South Road Properties (SRP) via F. Jaca St. in Barangay Inayawan.
The rest of the northbound private vehicles heading to the SRP, on the other hand, shall turn right to Cabreros St., left turn to Rizal Ave. Ext., then to their point of destination.
Other northbound vehicles are advised to turn left to F. Llamas St., right turn to Ganciang St., then to their point of destination.
Tumulak said public utility jeepneys (PUJ) should be given priority to ply the northbound lane in front of a supermarket, which has been opened to traffic over the weekend.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for his part, asked the public to endure the inconvenience in the meantime, as delaying the implementation of the project will only worsen the traffic situation in the area. /