Rama to ban non-essential vehicles from roads to hasten debris clearing
By Ivan Rey Tan
THE Cebu City Government will issue a directive that will ban non-essential vehicles from plying the roads to hasten the clearing of the debris caused by Typhoon Odette (Rai).
Mayor Michael Rama said Monday, Dec. 27, 2021 that most of the city’s clearing operations happen during night time when there are fewer vehicles on the road.
“Kinahanglan naay clearing day. Walay sakyanan, ang buhaton limpyo ra gyud,” said Rama. (There should be a clearing day. No vehicles. All that will be done will be clearing.)
Rama said they are still studying the schedule for the clearing day, but they are checking the possibility of having it on Dec. 30, 2021 or Jan. 2, 2022.
The mayor designated Vice Mayor Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros to act as the “garbage mover” and oversee the clearing operations of the city. Hontiveros is to coordinate with Councilors Edu Rama and Jerry Guardo.
Rama said the proposed initiative is like declaring a community quarantine wherein only those essential workers and authorized persons outside of residence are allowed to use their vehicles.
Typhoon Odette struck Cebu last Dec. 16 with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 240 kph, toppling trees and utility poles, and ripping roofs and other materials off homes and buildings.
When asked about the dumps of garbage in the city, Rama said the City has already collected loads of garbage and will continue to do so until the streets become clear of litter.
“Ang inyong tan-awon ayaw tong wala nakuha. Tan-awa ninyo kung unsa na ang nakuha,” said Rama. (Don’t look at what has not been collected. Look at what has been collected.)
The mayor also urged his constituents to dispose of debris from fallen trees in compost pits so that garbage trucks from the city will collect only garbage intended for dumpsites.
Rama added that the delay in the collection of garbage was caused by some dump trucks owned by the City being unaccounted for.
He now plans to conduct an inventory to find out the status of these government vehicular assets.
“Ang atong mga trucks nangawala, maong maginventory ko,” Rama said. (Our trucks disappeared, which is why I will conduct an inventory.)
