With only three weeks left before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the fate of over 30 trees lining the center island of Pope John Paul II Ave. (formerly Juan Luna) still hangs in balance.
The Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC) still wants to save the trees that Mayor Michael Rama insisted on removing even with the short time span left for them to implement any improvements.
Marc Canton, convenor of MLC, said they are at 80% for their design proposal to decongest the traffic so the mayor won’t have to cut the trees.
They have consulted with their own roster of architects and engineers, and with the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM).
Canton said the plan consisted mostly of rerouting PUJs and shaving off the extra cement in the sides of the islands that create choke points in traffic.
“Tomorrow night, we will be finished with our design proposal, and hopefully, after Rafael Yap (of CITOM) will give his input, we can present our design to the mayor within the week,” said Canton.
Canton is positive about the proposal and hopes the mayor will heed their call.
Rama said he was willing to listen to the input of Cebuano constituents before taking any action towards removing the islands.
“We will be having a walk-through at 6 a.m. within this week with all related agencies, and I hope we will come to a conclusion by then,” said Rama.
Rama mentioned MLC, CITOM, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 as the agencies that he will be invited.
The walk-through will begin at JY Square passing the stretch of Salinas Drive towards Mabolo, stopping at the Ayala Access Road.
Three weeks ago, Rama had proposed the removal of the center island on Pope John Paul II Ave. which are lined with trees to decongest traffic in the area.
Many netizens expressed their disapproval with Rama’s proposal, and wished that he would spare the trees the cruel fate of cutting, or of earthballing without the assurance that the trees will survive./UP Cebu Intern Juli Ann M. Sibi