WHAT WILL happen to the traffic situation in Cebu City’s south with no enforcers manning it? With the city government’s personnel out of the picture, only policemen are expected to be on site this week to assist commuters, and the public is bracing for the worst. The heads of both the city government and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said they won’t field traffic personnel to the area where an underpass project is being constructed along N. Bacalso Avenue, where congestion has worsened since last year. On Friday, Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña decided to pull out the city’s enforcers after LTO-Region 7 chief Victor Emmanuel C. Caindec challenged him to resign if LTO can do a better job in managing the situation there. Last week, a new traffic scheme was put in place as the underpass construction entered phase four. A dry run saw congestion lasting up to 17 hours. Mr. Osmeña said if Mr. Caindec can sort out the traffic in the south district, he will let LTO deal with the problem in other parts of the city, step down as mayor, and even endorse him for the mayorship. Mr. Caindec, meanwhile, said he has yet to clear the “conditions” before taking over management of the traffic situation. “Personally, I look forward to seeing the legal terms the Mayor will present to this arguably interesting albeit unorthodox challenge,” Mr. Caindec said in a statement last Friday night. — The Freeman

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