Mandaue City is considering a 60-day dry run of a traffic plan that will have some roads designated for one-way traffic in an effort to ease the gridlock in the city. A resolution authorizing the traffic experiment is being finalized and will be sponsored by Councilor Elstone Dabon, who is the chair of the committee on transportation, said Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) acting chief Glenn Antigua.
Mayor Jonas Cortes has asked the Mandaue City Council to schedule a special session to discuss the resolution.
TEAM is proposing to experiment with:
- Making S.B. Cabahug St. one way toward Pacific Mall starting from Jollibee Centro and the Mandaue City Hall
- Making P.J. Burgos St. one way from Pacific Mall toward Mandaue City Hall
- opening lanes below the Maguikay flyover for vehicles from the north heading to Cebu City
- changing traffic flow on the intersection of U.N. Ave. and M.C. Briones St. so vehicles from the north heading to Cebu City can move faster
Antigua told Sun.Star Cebu that the proposals are meant to “lessen the volume of vehicles taking Plaridel St. to go to the north.” He said they will stop the experiment if it doesn’t ease the traffic gridlock.
“Mandaue is the gateway to Cebu; you cannot go to Cebu without passing Mandaue and you cannot leave Cebu without passing Mandaue. Kitay giagian sa tanan mao kinahanglan gyud ang coordination ug cooperation sa tanan (All vehicles pass through our city so we need coordination and the cooperation of everybody).” — Mayor Jonas Cortes, according to Sun.Star Cebu
“Di nato ikalalis na grabe ang traffic sa Mandaue. Pero tan-awon sad atong gibuhat na projects, wa’g tuo. Kay ug dili ni nato buhaton karon, kanus-a man (It’s true traffic in Mandaue is bad, but let’s look at the projects being done left and right. If we don’t implement these projects now, then when)?” — Mayor Jonas Cortes
READ MORE:
- Sun.Star Cebu: Mandaue tests one-way plan
Mayor Rama to investigate purchase of rubbing alcohol at P4,244 per bottle
Government auditors have uncovered “extravagant expenditure” with the purchase of five bottles of rubbing alcohol for P21,222.90, or at P4,244.58 for each bottle. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered City Administrator Lucelle Mercado to look into the purchase.
Rama thanked the Commission on Audit for the finding and pledged to act on the purchase after the investigation. “We will ask them first to explain,” he told The Freeman.
READ MORE
- The Freeman: Rama orders probe on P4T per bottle rubbing alcohol
Auditors: P420 million in Cebu City infra projects ‘legally impaired’
Government auditors said Cebu City Hall contracts for P420 million in infrastructure projects are “legally impaired” because these lack the signature of the city accountant. The Commission on Audit said that without the accountant’s signature, “the contracts are void” and would be disallowed.
Cebu City Government officials, however, said that the accountant’s signature is no longer needed under the Local Government Code.
Cebu City Accountant Mark Rossel Salomon told Cebu Daily News that it has been City Hall’s practice for the city accountant not to sign contracts that the city treasurer has already signed.
“The purpose for the accountant to sign is to certify the availability of funds. But pursuant to RA 7160, the person mandated to certify (availability of) funds is the city treasurer. There’s no need for me to sign as witness. It’s redundant already.” — Cebu City Accountant Mark Rossel Salomon, as quoted by Cebu Daily News.
Salomon said Cebu City’s Local Finance Committee will convene this week to discuss observations by the Commission on Audit in its annual report.
“Infrastructure contracts entered into without the signature of the City Accountant as witness is legally impaired and thus, of doubtful validity.” — Commission on Audit report, as quoted by Cebu Daily News
READ MORE
- Cebu Daily News: INFRA DEALS NOT VALID?
HIV-infected donated blood up 40% in Central Visayas, ‘very alarming,’ says health official
The amount of donated blood infected with the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) has gone up 40% in Central Visayas in 2014, the health department reported.
Department of Health Central Visayas medical officer Dino Caing said that of the 162 blood units referred by Region 7 to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City for confirmation, 65 blood units tested positive for HIV.
“It’s becoming very alarming. Worse pa ta sa ubang urban areas.” — Department of Health Central Visayas medical officer Dino Caing, as quoted by The Freeman.
Caing told The Freeman that HIV can remain undetected after pre-donation testing and even during the blood donation process.
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Residents told, “give APEC delegates the Cebu experience”
Local organizers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) conference are asking Cebu residents to help make the meetings a success by ensuring foreign delegates get the best experience during the meetings in Cebu that will start on August 22.
“The entire Cebuano community must play host. Let’s give the delegates the Cebu experience that is unforgettable and pleasant.” — Lito Maderazo, overall coordinator of Apec Cebu organizing committee, as quoted by Sun.Star Cebu
Cebu will host about 60 ministerial meetings that will be attended by more than 3,000 delegates from August to October.
“Dako ang impact kung maayo nato pagka-host ang meetings. Atong hunahunaon na kita tanan naay role para successful atong pag-host (If we host the meeting well, it can have a big impact. Each one of us has a role to play for a successful hosting of the meetings).” — Cebu Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera, according to Sun.Star Cebu
Maderazo said organizers are coordinating closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the various local government units to deal with floods and heavy traffic.
READ MORE
Sun.Star Cebu: ‘Give Apec delegates the Cebu experience’
The Freeman: Street dwellers won’t be ‘hidden’ for APEC
Sun.Star Cebu: Note APEC agenda
Other Cebu News Headlines
» Man stabs partner after being accused of spreading sex video, attempts suicide
» Capitol sets aside P700,000 from development fund to pay for projects in Badian, Alegria, Ginatilan, Boljoon and Ronda
» Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong asks KEPCO, union to settle dispute peacefully
» Cebu Port Authority says it doesn’t want “war” with Cebu City Hall over Compañia Maritima building
» Follow terms of SRP lot sale, Cebu City council cautions City Hall
» Former Tuburan mayor Rose Marie Suezo, 5 town officials face charges over purchase of alleged overpriced fertilizers worth P250,000
» ‘Laglag-barya’ suspects released from jail because no one filed case against them
» Talisay vice mayor tells mayor to relocate people living in coastal areas instead of just building seawalls
“Ang kanindot sa baybayon sa Talisay mawagtang kay sige ra tag himo ug seawall (We have ruined the beauty of Talisay’s shore by building seawalls)” — Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, according to Sun.Star Cebu
