This is contrary to the views of Mayor Michael Rama, who considers center islands as obstructions.
In a letter to SunStar Cebu dated July 19, 2023, Yusoph Rasuman, head of the DPWH Cebu City District Engineering Office, said his office is not aware of the reasons behind the City Government’s decision to remove center islands.
He said center islands are there to serve as separators between opposing traffic directions, and provide a recovery area for out-of-control vehicles and a stopping area in case of emergency. He added that they also allow space for speed changes and control the location of intersection traffic conflicts.
He said center islands also provide aesthetics with the strategic placement of plant boxes or trees.
Rasuman was responding to a letter that SunStar Cebu had sent to the DPWH 7 on the matter.
According to the DPWH 7, the Cebu City Government initiated the removal of center islands without disclosing its purpose or seeking permission from the engineering office.
He said the only exception was for the center islands on Osmeña Blvd., which were removed to make way for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
The letter provided a list of center islands that were removed within the DPWH 7’s area of responsibility, including those along 8th St., a portion in front of Land Bank Plaza, a section along Cebu North Road, and an area along 5th St. in front of the demolished old White Gold building and Robinsons Galleria.
With regard to the cost of placing center islands, the DPWH 7 explained that it varies because the program of works and detailed unit price analysis is based on the prevailing unit cost of construction materials, which is validated quarterly per year.
As for the cost of removal, Rasuman said the DPWH 7 did not allocate any funds for this, as the agency did not remove any center islands.
He said they spent money on restoring center islands that were affected by road repavement.
He said roads are divided into different categories.
Aside from national roads, he said there are also provincial roads, municipality/local/city roads and barangay or farm-to-market roads.
Rasuman said the DPWH’s area of responsibility focuses on national roads as reflected in the national road network database, adding that center islands are included in the agency’s budget in the General Appropriations Act.
In an interview with SunStar Cebu on July 6, Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo of the committee on infrastructure said the mayor believes center islands add to traffic congestion by taking up space that could be utilized for an additional lane.
He also said in the same interview that the DPWH 7 is handling the demolition of center islands at no cost to the City Government.
Guardo said Rama always has the right and prerogative to demolish these structures.