Sanchez to lobby for trans-axial highway with Aquino administration

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. yesterday said he will endorse the P5-billion “trans-axial highway” as one of the priority projects of the new Philippine President, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Sanchez, in a press conference yesterday, said that he was surprised about Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s “turn around” regarding the project, considering that she made pronouncements of support for the proposal in her state-of-the-province address for 2007 and 2008.

The trans-axial highway is seen to traverse Cebu’s mountains to connect Santander town in the south to Daanbantayan town in the north.

In his proposal, Sanchez envisions water pipes for a bulk water project tapping waterfalls, springs and rivers in Badian, Balamban, Argao. Carmen and Catmon. The pipe will distribute water to the distributors of the different towns, but from the main pipe smaller pipes will branch out. The smaller pipes, where liquid fertilizers will be infused, will connect to pumping stations to serve farm lands. He sees this as a way of helping the farmers and increasing Cebu’s agricultural production.

Another component of the proposal, Sanchez said, is the wind power system that will produce at least 300 MW. He said this will address the power shortage of Cebu.

With Aquino sitting as the country’s new president, Sanchez believes that this project can be realized. Sanchez was allied with Aquino’s Liberal Party during the last elections. He added that he will prioritize the implementation of this project with the support of his runningmate in the last elections, Liberal party stalwart Hilario Davide III. Davide, a former Cebu City councilor, lost to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Capitol Spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda, however, said all projects in Cebu that are funded from the National Government are implemented here through various regional agencies. He said the Provincial Government has no hand in implementing projects funded by Malacañang. — THE FREEMAN