Rama to bring issue to PNoy

CEBU, Philippines - Although he is not completely against the construction of flyovers, Mayor Michael Rama will ask President Aquino to intervene so that instead of constructing flyover projects in Cebu City the government will prioritize the widening of roads as a means to address traffic congestion.

Rama admired those businessmen, who stood up against the construction of flyover projects at the intersections of General Maxilom and M.J. Cuenco Avenues in barangay Carreta and in Gorordo corner Archbishop Reyes Avenues.

According to Rama he had a talk with President Aquino last Sunday, although he did not bring up the matter to him, because he wants to send a formal letter to explain why he wants the money spent otherwise.

The mayor has cited the construction of a P150-million flyover project in Governor Mariano Cuenco corner A.S. Fortuna Street in barangay Banilad that according to him did not completely solve the traffic congestion in the area.

“Ang makasulbad g’yud sa traffic congestion mao ang pagpalapad sa karsada dili kay pagtukod og mga flyovers,” Rama told the reporters yesterday.

Rama said even if the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had included the widening of a stretch of M.J. Cuenco Avenue in its budget, but according to him it should be implemented first before the construction of the flyover.

He challenged the members of the City Council to come up with a stand about the issue because they were never consulted about the construction of the two flyover projects.

Although DPWH district engineer Nicomedes Leonor had said that the flyover project was requested by the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) in 2001, but he is not sure if the city legislators have been consulted about it that time.

It was reported that the members of the Banilad–Talamban Traffic Task Force headed by Rama had passed a resolution to show their opposition of building more flyovers in the city because they want widening of roads.

Some advocates for the environment have also joined the campaign against the flyover projects.

The group hopes that government would make a master plan to make living in the city sustainable.

Heads of business chambers had earlier joined Mayor Rama in saying that widening of roads and not building flyovers would be the best solution at this time.

Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar is pushing for the undertaking, backed by Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña.

All those who opposed the construction insisted that the government should first widen the roads because traffic congestion would not be solved by merely constructing the flyovers.

Del Mar explained that of the P600-million budget for the project, only P300 million is for the two flyover structures while the rest would be used to widen the roads, particularly at the vicinity of the vehicles’ overpass. — with Gregg M. Rubio/NLQ - (THE FREEMAN)