OVER three weeks after 79 trees were uprooted from the middle of S. Osmeña Road, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is more concerned about the center island that was demolished.
He said he wanted the concrete divider restored and landscaped, and for sidewalks to be added.
The fate of the missing trees that used to be planted there is a matter best left to the courts, he said.
Rama said the center island, which was demolished by the contractor as part of a road rehabilitation project, would prevent people from jaywalking and crossing the national road in violation of traffic rules.
“There never was a discussion from the beginning about the removal of the center island,” said Rama.
He said its removal was a decision made by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Central Visayas to change the road configuration.
The mayor did not express indignation over the sudden loss of the trees when their disappearance was first brought up by Councilor Nida Cabrera in a privilege speech in April 2.
Neither did he order a search for the trees, mostly fire trees, or press the contractor WT Construction to explain what it did with them.
The DPWH, which supervises the road project, said the contractor was more concerned with the mayor’s desire to finish the project by October aside from other national road concreting works.
Rama met yesterday with DPWH officials led by Engr. Nonito Payladao, head of the agency’s planning division, and representatives of WT Construction led by project manager Adolfo Quiroga.
The mayor emphasized the need to replace the center island and finish road concreting projects by October.
Quiroga begged off issuing a statement in the media since the case was pending in court.
He and six officials of WT Construction were charged with illegal destruction of trees by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last April 16.
Quiroga said the company’s replies will be made in court.
Mayor Rama also refused to discuss the issue of the missing trees, saying this should be left to the court.
He told reporters he warned WT Construction against any work stoppage which may affect the time table of their road concreting project.
Rama said he was more concerned with restoring the two-meter center island and putting a sidewalk for pedestrians.
“Ako silang gi ingnan nga kanang center island sa S. Osmena unya na ninyo hilabti if we already need more road space.”
For now, the six-lane Osmeña Road is wide enough for traffic, he said but several parts like the vicinity of Block 27 after the Mahiga bridge have no sidewalks yet.
He said DPWH was tasked to negotiate with lot owners to acquire space for sidewalks.
The Cebu City government is ready to sell part of Block 27 to establish a sidewalk.
The mayor offered to lead discussions with Councilor Cabrera, DWUP head Collin Rosell and Tinago and San Roque barangay officials with businesses and other private lot owners in the area.