Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will temporarily assume the reins of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) until his chosen appointee accepts the post.
Rama told reporters that he informed the 500 Citom personnel about this in an early morning meeting yesterday.
“As mayor and knowing that we’re already experiencing horrible traffic with the holidays, I will be hands on with Citom,” Rama said.
He said the city’s traffic congestion will worsen in the next few days and will last until after the Sinulog next month.
Rama said he will handle the city’s traffic as if it is an emergency situation.
Last Monday, Rama ordered the transfer of Citom executive director Rafael Yap to the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project management office.
Volunteer
Rama said he already appointed Citom board member and private sector representative Victor Caindec to replace Yap.
But he said Caindec still wants to talk to him about his appointment.
Rama said he and the Citom personnel agreed in yesterday’s meeting that they will cancel their Christmas party to make sure that there are enough personnel manning the traffic.
They also agreed to render an extra hour of service everyday with no additional payment.
Safety
In return, Rama said he will find ways to give each Citom personnel a sack of rice. If they win in the raffle at City Hall’s Christmas party this Friday, Rama said they can also claim their prize even if they’re not around during the event.
Citom operations chief Joy Tumulak said they will field more traffic personnel near churches as the dawn Masses start.
From six churches last year, Tumulak said they will be assigning 60 personnel in 28 churches all over the city this year.
“We’re doing this to ensure the safety of churchgoers and to avoid accidents. We also want a smooth traffic flow in areas near the church and for the people to feel the presence of Citom during the dawn Masses,” Tumulak told reporters.
Bigger churches like the Basilica del Sto Niño, Metropolitan Cebu Cathedral and Sto. Rosario Parish Church will have four personnel while others will have one or two.
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