Cebu City to Earth-ball Trees on Busy Street to Ease Traffic

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has said the city will push through with its plan to remove the center island from the corner of the Cardinal Rosales Ave. Ayala intersection to Gov. Cuenco Ave. under the flyover to ease traffic congestion in the area.

Rama said trees on the island will be earth-balled and will be transferred to the city-owned lot in the North Reclamation Area.

But the city government has yet to get an earth-balling permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.

Rama said it will be done not just for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next month and the International Eucharistic Congress next year.

“I have to address the traffic problem in that area now because if I don’t, the situation will be worse in the future. So to those who are opposing, let me ask, what is your alternative?” Rama said.

He said the center island will be replaced with a steel railing that can be removed when necessary.

Rama said it is also in preparation for his plan to make Pope John Paul Ave. a one-way road in the future.

He said the Ayala intersection on Pope John Paul Ave. is a bottleneck, with vehicles coming from three directions taking the route to go to IT Park. (PNA) FFC/EB/PJN