Demolition of Iloilo overpass sought

TOURISM department regional head Helen Catalbas has requested to the City Government of Iloilo for the demolition of a city-funded overpass, which, she said, is useless.

"Useless and has outlived its usefulness to the present condition of the city that must be demolished immediately" is the stakeholders' reaction against the P400,000-worth city-funded overpass along Bonifacio Drive in front of the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office.

DOT regional director Helen Catalbas, who wrote the request to the City Government of Iloilo, said the overpass outlived its usefulness for 20 years.

She added that several sectors, including DOT and the Provincial Government, are against the construction of the overpass even during the time of Malabor; however, Malabor insisted to build the project with city funds, claiming the people will have a safe passage across the busy street especially to the Hall of Justice building.

There were police reports that the unlighted overpass was used only by drunks and members of the cultural minorities to sleep during the evenings and a rape incident and murder case happened at the edifice.

Leone Gerochi, head of the City Council committee on engineering, construction and public works, said the committee concluded a public hearing on Thursday, April 4, 2013, on the requested demolition of the overpass and will render its recommendation to City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog immediately after the May 2013 elections.

The public hearing was participated by Catalbas and other stakeholders along the Bonifacio Drive area.

The overpass was built in 1993 during the term of former City Mayor Mansueto Malabor as the mayor's legacy project.

Gerochi said the overpass project is a last recourse in any urban planning and may come up with a solution soon.

Gerochi said he will exhaust all means to get public sentiments on the project or may recommend for a demolition or redesign and rehabilitation if warranted.

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Demolition of Iloilo overpass sought