Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has summoned contractors and officials of the country’s third telecommunications company to address the worsening traffic issues along the highway of densely populated and commercial areas in several towns in Metro Cebu.
In a meeting with local chief executives from the northern towns of Cebu on Friday, Garcia expressed her belief that Dito Telecommunity’s excavation works for the installation of fiber optic cables along the highway is aggravating the traffic problem in the area.
Local officials who attended the meeting reported that Dito’s communication cables will be installed in a total of 11 potholes.
The meeting was attended by Mayors Johannes Alegado of Consolacion town, Christina Frasco of Liloan, and representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Company officials had yet to issue a statement as of press time.
“They’ve been digging along the highway, which led traffic to be narrowed down to one lane instead of the usual two lanes,” said Garcia.
The governor said if Dito and its contractor cannot cover the holes with steel plates, the provincial government will have to take care of it, but it will be charged to the telecom company.
“Everybody has to be cooperating here,” Garcia said. “All hands on deck.”
She warned that the local governments “might have to resort to other actions” if Dito does not correct these problems.
“If they cannot correct what they did, which already is an added burden to the Cebuanos who have suffered enough from traffic, I might have to resort to other actions,” said Garcia.
Alegado said the excavation works started last month and were expected to be finished by the second week of December. However, the Consolacion mayor admitted the diggings continue, on a stretch that spans about eight kilometers, from the vicinity of Barangay Pitogo up to the Mandaue City border.
The potholes created by Dito were left unattended for more than a month already, Consolacion Traffic head Feliculo Lecciones said. The traffic chief added there are no proper markings around the potholes, which makes it dangerous for motorists who drive at night.
Numerous motorists have complained of the heavy traffic on Cebu North Road in past weeks. The road connects Cebu City to neighboring Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, and ends at the Port of Hagnaya in San Remigio town on the northern tip of the province.