Tom snubs Ciudad traffic plan

Mayor Tomas Osmeña is not interested to look at the traffic plan of the Provincial Government on its proposed "Ciudad" project along Gov. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad.

Despite the traffic plan, the mayor is not inclined to lift the moratorium on the project because Banilad area is already too congested.

He said that councilor Sylvan Jakosalem has already informed him about the traffic plan but he has not received a copy of the plan yet.

"No. I'm busy. I'll take a look at it when I'm not busy," Osmeña said.

The mayor also explained that he is not very optimistic that he will consider the capitol's traffic plan and lift the moratorium on its project because he still needs to wait until June and see the impact of traffic in Banilad area. Sacred Heart School for Boys is opening its school in the area this June.

"You have to realize that there is a traffic problem in that area. You have to realize that it is not working better," he said.

He also said he will not build an overpass in the area because it will cost a lot of money.

"You also have to realize that cooperating with the province is not a priority under the circumstances," he added.

He said the moratorium does not only apply to the province's project but also to any development, which may aggravate the worsening traffic situation in the area.

"I already said that there is a problem on traffic in the area and I am not inclined to allow any development in the area," he emphasized.

Jakosalem, chairman of the city council's committee on transportation and communications said that on Wednesday afternoon, a "Ciudad traffic consideration" was submitted to his office. The councilor said he does not know who furnished the six-page traffic plan to his office but it bears the name of the project developer, Fifth Avenue Development Corporation.

The councilor said the traffic plan shows measures that will be taken and the roads where vehicles will enter and exit when they go to Ciudad. It also shows parking map of Ciudad.

Jakosalem said that he will ask the City Traffic Operations Management to conduct a traffic impact study in the area, including the whole stretch of Gov. Cuenco Avenue taking into consideration the traffic plan of Ciudad and the project's effect to the traffic in the area.

The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution seeking a freeze in any development of a 2.8-hectare province-owned property in Banilad.

The area is the site for the proposed Ciudad, a commercial complex from which the capitol is expected to gain P2 billion.

The resolution is asking the Cebu City Planning Office not to approve any development plans in the area pending a study on its impact on traffic in the area. - Wenna A. Berondo/BRP