A former radio broadcaster and Argao municipal councilor will head the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom).
Lawyer Rey Gealon will be the new Citom executive director next week, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama told reporters yesterday.
“I interviewed him already and I was very clear about what’s the direction and where he should be,” Rama said.
Rama said outgoing Citom chief Rafael Yap will focus on the P10-billion Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity especially the trust and confidence of the mayor,” Gealon told reporters.
Challenge
Last Tuesday, Gealon resigned as municipal councilor of Argao town where he was reelected to a second term in the 2013 elections.
He said he would transfer his voter’s registration from Argao to Cebu City.
“I was born and raised in Cebu City. It was just that when I reached 18 that I registered in Argao. Next week, I will register in Cebu City’s south district,” said Gealon who lives in barangay Quiot.
He is also a senior partner of the E.C. Labella and Partners Law Office of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and is married to prosecutor Jill Ann Gealon of the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.
“I’ve fulfilled my legislative duties there enacting ordinances and resolutions for Argao. This, I believe is a proper time for me to venture into another field of public service. It’s a great challenge before me,” Gealon said.
Overnight parking
In his stint as Argao councilor, Gealon said he headed the town’s committee on transportation.
Though not a traffic expert, Gealon said he earned a master’s and doctorate in public administration.
“I can always refer to traffic engineers, urban planners and all sectors which are represented in the board. What I can do is manage traffic in coordination with these experts. I am very eager to learn more especially in this field,” he said.
Gealon said among the problems encountered in the city is illegal overnight parking and sidewalk parking.
If these are addressed, he said sidewalks will be cleared and people can walk.
Traffic project concept
He said passenger jeepney drivers need to be educated on loading and unloading passengers.
Gealon said he wants a public address system to remind passengers and drivers of the proper loading areas.
Rama said he told Gealon to pursue “selective decentralization” and “clustering” in managing traffic.
He also asked for a “traffic project concept” to decongest areas like Labangon, Lahug, Salinas Drive, Banilad and Barrio Luz.