Rama tells DPWH: 2 more flyovers not a priority

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and the rest of the members of the Banilad-Talamban Traffic Task Force appealed to the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to abort the planned construction of two more flyovers in Cebu City that they believe should not be the priority.

The task force sent a resolution to DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson last month asking the department to reconsider the plan and instead look for alternative solutions to the worsening traffic in the city.

“I would like to request that no additional 2-lane flyovers be constructed in the City of Cebu until after a Transportation Master Plan shall have been completed and alternative solutions to the current horrendous traffic problem in the city are thoroughly studied,” the letter reads.

City Traffic Operations Management Board Chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem said that they want DWPH to prioritize first the widening of the Ban-Tal road which they believe must be given weight more than adding two flyovers.

Earlier reports in this paper cited the DPWH’s appropriation of P400 million for two flyovers in M.J. Cuenco and General Maxilom Avenues and Corner Gorordo and Archbishop Reyes Avenues that were confirmed by DPWH in a recent meeting with Rama.

“We learned that the two flyovers have been budgeted and ready for implementation while the P200 million for the widening of the Ban-Tal road is still under the proposal column, which for us should not be the case,” Jakosalem said.

Jakosalem added that the two planned flyovers did not even pass through CITOM.

The task force frowned that DPWH made no alternative studies, traffic analysis and engineering calculations before it approved the flyovers in two traffic-prone intersections in the city.

The task force believes that alternative solution to traffic would best address the problem.

“Several traffic engineering experts have made extensive engineering analysis aided with sophisticated traffic engineering software to prove that numerous other cost effective alternative solutions …such as a combination of widening of existing road and alternate routes, opening of alternate routes, flaring of intersections, pocket lanes and sidewalk improvements,” the task force pointed out in its resolution.

Jakosalem said that flaring must be done in all major intersections in the city which is way cheaper than building flyovers.

The taskforce said there are six more two-lane flyovers to be constructed in Cebu City that would cost about P1.3 billion.

“A tiny fraction of the billions of pesos already spent for the flyovers, say P40 million, can be wisely spent on a second transportation master plan that can guide Cebu’s transportation, road and drainage infrastructure needs for the next 20 years,” the task force said while stressing that the first Transportation Master Plan in Metro Cebu was made in 1978 yet or 33 years ago that may not be applicable in the present times.

Jakosalem said that the solution to the traffic in the Ban-Tal area will allow landowners in Ban-Tal to develop their property for commercial development in the area.

It was former Cebu City north district congressman Raul del Mar who facilitated the initial budget of the twin projects. After his term ended last June 30, her daughter who succeeded his post, Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar, made follow ups for additional allocations.

The former congressman said Cutie already met with the DPWH regional director to complete all the plans so that consultations with all stakeholders, CITOM and the city officials can start.

But Rama pointed out to DPWH, “The present administration of President Aquino has made a commitment to correct the mistakes of past administrations and to spend the taxpayers money wisely.” — (FREEMAN)