School overpass reopens to students

In a move to ensure safety of students and to decongest the road during rush hours, the Iloilo City Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) reopened the overpass at Luna Street, La Paz June 10.

The overpass between Iloilo National High School (INHS) and West Visayas State University (WVSU) was unused for some time.

“The overpass has long been there and we have clarified to students and teachers of Iloilo National High School during their flag ceremony that they need to use the overpass in order for them to be safe when going to the other side of the road and also to decongest the area during rush hours,” PSTMO head Jeck Conlu said.

He said the site experiences heavy traffic from 6:30 a.m until 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PSTMO partially closed the pedestrian lane between INHS and at the second gate of WVSU, and have designated eight personnel from Special Services Division (SSD) to ensure that students, teachers and commuters use the overpass when crossing.

“The pedestrian will only be used by PWDs, pregnant women, senior citizens and those students or teachers who are carrying bulky things. We plan to continue the initiative even during summer season. And rest assured we will see to it that those who are using the overpass are safe,” Conlu stressed.

PSTMO personnel have also cleaned the overpass and they plan to repaint it since there are graffiti on the walls.

The move was part of PSTMO’s advocacy “Ilonggo Disiplinado” to instill public discipline towards road safety which will be launched next month in partnerships with other government and private offices in the metropolis.

Prior to the implementation, Conlu said he has talked with INHS principal and teachers and asked for their help to support the advocacy.

“I also plan on doing the same thing once classes at WVSU start. I will be talking with the officials and I will be campaigning to them to use the overpass. We are doing this in order to assure the parents that their children are safe when going to school and on their way home,” Conlu said.

“As for the penalty of students who fail to follow the rules, their names will be listed and given to their respective advisers for what actions to do,” he added.

Conlu said he planned to impose the same disciplinary measure at the overpass between Iloilo Central Elementary School (ICES) and Assumption Iloilo at Gen. Luna Street, City Proper. (PIO)