Provincial gov’t to evaluate trans-axial highway project
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Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday downplayed insinuations raised by various environmental experts that the landslides may likely to occur if the proposed project is not scrutinized well.
“The truth of the matter is this (highway project) has to be thoroughly study. The output those who have prepared this will need to be scrutinized, analyzed, evaluated, and we will need to see if indeed what has been presented is what we envisioned the highway to be,” stressed Garcia.
She was reacting to the reports that it was only she who could halt the implementation of the project. Last Wednesday, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez had said issue of landslide raised by the Central Cebu Protected Landscape is being considered.
Before, the governor is keeping a tight lip on the issue of the highway project. Garcia said that in the early interview she refused to give comment because it was not yet time to discuss. “It’s still the time to prepare the plan and work.”
However, because of the controversy that started to come out, the governor assured that all concerns by various groups are being considered.
“I am not claiming to be the best champion but certainly I am the champion for the preservation of our environment. If we are to go with development, it must be in sustainable manner,” Garcia said. “I don’t think it will do us again any good to be wasting so much words, emotions, and newsprints in an issue that does need to be an issue.”
She said that the proponents could not even talk about the bidding. “We have to scrutinize it (highway project) first.”
“I am only the person in the Economic Enterprise Council. I chair the council but this will discussed and thoroughly evaluated by the council,” she said. — Gerome M. Dalipe/LPM
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