• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The municipal government of Valladolid in Negros Occidental has suspended all tourism and economic activities at the Sunset Boulevard in Barangay Palaka, following a fatal road crash that claimed the lives of two people.
Mayor Ricardo Presbitero Jr. said the decision was made during an emergency executive meeting held after the July 5 incident.
The meeting resulted in the issuance of Executive Order 036, which took effect on July 6, temporarily halting all tourism-related and economic activities at the boulevard to allow authorities to conduct a comprehensive safety assessment.
Existing traffic management policies will be reviewed and additional safety measures to protect residents, visitors, vendors, and motorists will also be implemented.
On July 5, a fuel tanker rammed into a food cart at the boulevard, killing 36-year-old vendor “Ramilie” and her 17-year-old companion “Hannah”.
Presbitero said the roadside vending activity was initiated by the Barangay Palaka Council after the boulevard became a popular tourist destination.
He added the suspension of tourism activities in the area will give the municipality time to revise operational plans.
“We have already discussed new operational plans and hopefully, we can resume activities once the necessary safety measures are in place,” Presbitero said.
He said the area could reopen subject to the completion of safety improvements and coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Presbitero added the municipality is negotiating with the DPWH to install solid road markings, including no-overtaking lines and reinforce the implementation of the existing 1991 municipal ordinance imposing a 30-kilometer per hour speed limit along the boulevard.
“Unless the solid lines and other safety measures are established, we will not allow any activity in the area,” he said.
Under the proposed operational plan, vending activities will be limited to a night market from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Presbitero said they are also planning to deploy a stationary rescue unit, medical personnel, and police officers in the area once operations resume.
Barangay Palaka, which has a population of around 5,000, has two organizations of market vendors operating at the boulevard before the suspension.
The mayor said that vendors will not be allowed to return until the municipality completes its negotiations with the DPWH, implements the new safety measures, and the council tasked to govern the area finishes its evaluation. | GPB
