A temporary truck-ban is being planned for the Sum-ag road in Bacolod City, that is being repaired, after a sugarcane truck fell on its side in the area Friday, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, said yesterday.

Three persons were hospitalized when the cane loaded on the truck fell on them past 9 p.m. Friday. The incident also caused traffic congestion in the area as only one lane was left usable.

Sayson said he met with Insp. Renato Ofamen , acting chief of the Bacolod City Traffic Management Unit, on the proposal for the truck ban at the Sum-ag road to avoid similar accidents.

Once the ban is approved, he said, trucks will be prohibited for entering the area from 5 p.m. up to 8:30 p.m.

More traffic enforcers were deployed at the Sum-ag road and they are assisted by Brgy. Sum-ag tanods, Sayson also said.

During their meeting with Sayson on November 16 at the Bacolod City Government Center, District Engineer Reynaldo Venturina had assured that the repair of Sum-ag road would be finished by December 16.

However, Sayson said he doubts that that can be done because, with barely two weeks before the target date of completion, only one lane has been fixed.

Sayson reiterated his call to the DPWH to fast-track the repair of the Sum-ag road because, the more it is delayed, the more the motorists heading south are agonizing with traffic stalled for 20 to 30 minutes.

DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT

Meanwhile, in a letter to Venturina in November 9, Pulupanan Mayor Magdaleno Peña suggested that DPWH should incorporate in their program of works the construction of drainage canals on both sides of the road in order to discharge run-off water to the Sum-ag river and the Pahanocoy creek beside Manville Royal Subdivision.

He suggested that, if possible, an open canal lined up on opposite sides of the road should be constructed, as it is the most practical, being cost-effective and could facilitate easy maintenance and early detection of blockages as compared to an enclosed canal which would be difficult to monitor and maintain.

In reply to Peña’s letter, Venturina said that pursuant to the Drainage Plans and Details submitted to his office by Rommel Rosales, Project Engineer, the drainage will be constructed on both sides of the road at the portion of Araneta highway in Brgy. Sum-ag.*APN

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