City Hall bans improvements along Gov. M. Cuenco Ave.

Aside from the moratorium implemented by the Cebu City government on major development projects within the Banilad-Talamban cluster area, City Hall will no longer allow even minor building improvements within a five-meter distance from both sides of the Gov. Mariano Cuenco Avenue.

But this will only affect those who wish to construct new structures, but not to the existing building structures in the area.

Chief City Hall planner Nigel Paul Villarete has already instructed Land Use and Zoning Division head Joel Reston to strictly implement the 30-meter road-right of way at the entire stretch of the highway from barangay Banilad to Talamban and neighboring barangays.

The 1996 Revised Zoning Ordinance of Cebu City showed that the Gov. Mariano Cuenco Avenue has an existing road-right-of way of 20 meters only, but with an express provision for expansion of another 10 meters —five meters on both sides.

Villarete said because of the existing traffic congestion problem within the Banilad-Talamban area, there should be a need to implement the 30-meter road-right-of way that is why any application for building improvement within the area shall not be allowed.

Although Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that the road-widening project along Gov. Mariano Cuenco Avenue is not his priority, Villarete said it is also possible that the national government might provide the budget for the project.

There is an old practice that even if the place is slated for road expansion project the owners of the properties will just sign an affidavit of undertaking assuring that they will demolish —at their own cost– any structure constructed on the planned road-right of way.But Villarete said this practice should be stopped.

If an owner of a lot besides the Gov. Mariano Cuenco Avenue applies for improvement of his property, he is not allowed to use the five-meter space in front of his property to comply with the parking space requirement as provided for under City Ordinance 1656.

Earlier Osmeña questioned the developers’ move of concentrating their projects in the city’s north district despite there are other areas in the city’s south district, particularly the South Road Properties.

The Capitol’s plan to construct a five-story commercial building and other structures for the Ciudad project in barangay Banilad was affected by the moratorium implemented by the city.

Osmeña explained the city’s move was not intended for the provincial government’s project alone, but to all projects in that Banilad-Talamban cluster area to minimize the traffic congestion.— Rene U. Borromeo/BRP