Officials decide: Pasil-Ermita bridge stays

The bridge connecting Barangays Pasil and Ermita allegedly used for drug transactions in the area will not be demolished, according to Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), following a meeting with the barangay captains and station commanders yesterday morning.

“Listening from both sides, the problem was, the bridge was used for the transaction of the activities, more specifically on drugs. By addressing it, we will not demolish it (bridge), considering the fact that kana nga bridge, gihimo man na nato nga agianan for emergency purposes,” said Garry Lao, Cebu Office of Substance Abuse Prevention chief and CADAC co-chairman.

Pasil Barangay Captain Julius Guioguio said he is not in favor of the demolition of the bridge but his council approved the recommendation of Pasil's Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) since minors were allegedly being used to sell drugs in the area.

“Ang ako sad nga side, on behalf sa miyembro nako sa BADAC, di sad ko uyon nga i-demolish kay tungod kay emergency sa Ermita o dri sa amo (Pasil), naa'y access road ang mga tawo. Pero nagsige nasad mi'g observe, na wa na gyud ang main purpose sa bridge nga gibutang unta na diha para sayon, dali,” Guioguio said.

Even before BADAC submitted a recommendation for the demolition, his council already passed a resolution to schedule specific time periods when the bridge will be open, he said.

He said he has sent letters and made calls to reach Barangay Ermita to discuss the problem but got no response, which pushed him to approve the recommendation of BADAC.

Ermita Barangay Captain Mark Miral then said that Guioguio's communications were sent when his predecessor, now deceased Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta, was suspended from office, thus causing a lull in the process.

“Basically, ang intensyon gyud ana (bridge) is, ang primary purpose nato nga katong mga bata nato makaaccess, moskwela sa Pasil, katong mga tawo mangadto sa Pasil nga mangompra,” Miral said.

Both barangay captains agreed that the bridge also serves other purposes for their respective barangays in terms of accessibility, convenience, and emergencies and decided to coordinate with each other and the police to strengthen visibility and security in the area.

Carbon Police Station Commander Chief Inspector Jacinto Mandal, Jr. suggested placing a gate in the middle of the bridge, instead of at the end of either side, to better control accessibility.

“Sayang man gud kaayo, sayang ba kung atong gub-on, dako gyud kaayo sayang, gamit bitaw [ang bridge] kung maghisgot og mga calamity,” Mandal said.

San Nicolas Station Commander Chief Inspector Kieth Andaya then suggested placing barbed wires on the bridge to keep people from crossing it when the gate is closed.

He also suggested to have the bridge lighted well and a closedcircuit television surveillance cameras installed on either side of it to better identify the individuals involved in drug transactions.

“Mas maayo siguro nga dili padiretso-diretso gub-on dayon nato kay luoy pud ba, ang ato nalang diri, it's just a matter of the coordination between two barangays [kung] what time nato i-close [ang bridge],” Andaya said.

Andaya also suggested for the officials of the two barangays to meet every month to give updates and address problems involving drugs in both barangays.

The resolution passed by the Pasil Barangay Council approving the recommendation of Pasil's BADAC will then be put on reserve in case the planned measures will not solve the problem, said Lao.

The officials of both barangays will have another meeting on Monday in Barangay Pasil to finalize the details of their coordination.