By Chito Chavez
Due to mounting public complaints, Quezon City Vice -Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed support for a one-week postponement of the closure of the Tandang Sora flyover on Commonwealth Avenue to give way for the conduct of more information drives on alternative routes as the construction of MRT-7 continues.
As public concerns escalate, Belmonte said the one-week delay in the flyover’s closure will allow the more extensive information dissemination citing that a great number of motorists are not yet aware of the said plan and the rerouting scheme.
(Mark Balmores / MANILA BULLETIN)
“I think there should be a delay because we found out that many people are still uninformed of this. So we’re asking if one week postponement is okay. We want to assure that everything is ironed out,” said Belmonte.
If the Department of Transportation (DOTr) thumbs down her request, Belmonte said: “We will still work with the time frame, we’ll work overtime to inform our people,” referring to a previous proposal for a three-delay of the closure.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jose Garcia also welcomed Belmonte’s proposal saying he will positively endorse it to the DOTr.
Moreover, the Quezon City government assured the public that the closure of the Tandang Sora flyover will ease the traffic in Quezon City in the long run, and the anticipated discomfort will only be temporary.
“I want to assure our people that this discomfort is only temporary. It’s a momentary discomfort to pave the way for the full implementation of the construction of the MRT-7. It will ease our worsening traffic that we have been experiencing in our city for the past several years,” Belmonte said.
“Kaunting pagtitiis lang dulot ng mga pagbabagong ito… tungo sa isang mas maganda at maginhawang kinabukasan para sa ating lahat (Please bear with the temporary inconvenience due to this changes that will benefit us in the long run),” she added.
The Quezon City Council conducted a recent public consultation where relevant and pressing issues were addressed concerning the closure of the Tandang Sora Flyover.
The flyover was slated to be closed on February 23 and is expected to worsen the already horrendous traffic situation along Commonwealth Ave. and several affected areas.
“In the spirit of transparency, I want all of this to be presented to our people so that our city government can work with you toward easing the discomfort that we are all anticipating to happen and will affect our people in the coming years,” Belmonte said
However, Belmonte remained supportive of the MRT-7 construction saying that the local government will not be a hindrance toward the betterment strategized by the national government, but will extend the needed assistance to ease the traffic situation once the demolition commenced.
“Our objective is to cooperate together, to work with one another because in the long term, we know these changes will be affecting us for the greater good of our city and of our nation. And we are fully cooperative of your endeavors,” she added.
The MMDA recently announced the demolition of the Tandang Sora Flyover to pave the way for the construction of the MRT-7 project, where the Tandang Sora intersection will be closed for two years.