City Hall Cleared Sidewalk Nuisance in Lahug; PROBE Received No Resistance from Vendors, Residents

The head of the Cebu City Hall’s Prevention Restoration Order and Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) today (Tuesday) announced that her personnel already cleared of any obstacles the sidewalk of Salinas Drive in Lahug to discourage the pedestrians from walking in the road.

There was no reported resistance from those residents who illegally used the sidewalk for their business like carenderia and other livelihood projects. There were water vending machines that were installed in the sidewalk and additional tables for the customers of carenderia.

Probe head Raquel Arce said from the location of the flyover along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, her personnel cleared the sidewalks toward the entrance of the IT Park and those owners of tables and some other items that were cleared by the City Hall team were advised not to use the sidewalk for business.

Under the law, roads and sidewalks are beyond the “commerce of man” and any obstacles found in sidewalks can be removed immediately even without court orders because these are considered public nuisance under the law.

After she received numerous complaints from the public and the motorists, Arce personally visited the place Monday to advise those persons who are making business along the sidewalk to stop their illegal activities.

Aside from the pedestrians who could no longer use the sidewalk prompting them to walk in the road, the motorists are also complaining because the people walking in the road can prevent them from speeding their vehicles for fear that they may hit the pedestrians.

Mayor Michael Rama encouraged the Probe team to restore the sidewalk in the area and even supported the move of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to widen the sidewalk along Salinas Drive where motorists always experienced traffic congestion.

The DPWH has already issued notices to the owners of structures along the road in Salinas Drive because their houses will be affected of the planned to widen the road , including the sidewalk.

DPWH District Engineer Nicomedes Leonor already informed Portia Baquita, the acknowledged leader of the concerned residents, informing her that she and her neighbors have violated the provisions of the National Building Code because it encroach the place intended for sidewalks.

Several persons who frequently pass by the place, like those working in different establishments in IT Park, were happy to learn of the government’s plan to expand the houses from the supposed sidewalk

There were suggestions to install metal railings to prevent the families living beside the Sallinas Drive to expand their houses or to place tables and other items within the sidewalk that will obstruct the flow of the pedestrians.