ILOILO CITY – A month after its highly publicized opening, the P2.2-billion road known as Sunset Boulevard claimed its first fatality when a 26-year-old man was killed in a vehicular accident.
A CANDLELIGHT vigil is held for Jonazardo Manipula Abong who died in an accident at the newly opened Sunset Boulevard in Iloilo City last Feb. 27. (Ruby Ann Delmoro)
Jonazardo Manipula Abong died at the hospital over the weekend, days after the Feb. 27 accident when a car driven by a college student collided with his motorcycle in an intersections located in Barangay Sooc.
The 26-year-old was working as a part-time delivery rider as he was preparing to enter the police force. Abong recently passed the criminology board exam.
Abong’s death was seen by many Ilonggos as a failure of the city government in ensuring Sunset Boulevard is ready to be used when there were vehicular accidents recorded within a month period of its public opening.
Kagawad Lino Sedotes of Barangay Sooc said Abong’s death could have been avoided if there were proper road signages or early warning devices for drivers.
Sedotes told Manila Bulletin that it was only after Feb. 27 that the Iloilo City government installed a yellow signage urging drivers to slow down as there is an intersection ahead. He surmised that the driver did not notice the intersection ahead.
The unfinished Sunset Boulevard was only inaugurated last Jan. 24.
The project lobbied by former Ilonggo Sen. Franklin Drilon was originally implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) but no longer had the funding to finish portions of the project.
Mayor Jerry Treñas publicly announced the Iloilo City government is taking over the Iloilo Sunset Boulevard to maintain it.
Since its opening, the road that runs from Iloilo City to portions of neighboring Oton town was beset with problems.
People used Sunset Boulevard as free parking space and an open bar where people would drink alcoholic beverages. People also dumped garbage in the area.