Gwen: P1B available for MCDCB members to loan

CEBU, Philippines - The Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) chairperson has reminded all members of local government unit of the P1 billion funds available for them to be loaned for drainage work and flood control projects.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued the reminder following the recommendation of experts who composed the IBM Executive Service Corps that local officials in Metro Cebu need to get their acts together and integrate plans to have effective and sustainable solutions to common challenges, including flooding and traffic congestion.

Garcia pointed out the need to earn the “culture of trust” among the LGUs which could possibly be established when they will be able to show through concrete action that the MCDCB is the answer to the common challenges all are facing and not acting as isolated LGU.

“We must have an integrated approach, a collaborative effort. We will come with the short term action, certain measures that shall be put immediately in place. Hopefully such short term measures will produce immediate results which would start this culture of trust,” Garcia said.

During the MCDCB full board meeting yesterday, Garcia, in the light of the recent unprecedented flooding in Metro Cebu, has mentioned report of the Department of Public Works and Highways which said that its P20 million allocation for flood control project this year still has not been released.

“How could that possibly address the concerns of the Metro Cebu area?” Garcia asked.

Garcia is hoping that the P1 billion available at MCDCB be seriously considered by the LGUs saying that it has definitely lower interest rate than the commercial rate. The Province of Cebu and the Development Bank of the Philippines shared together the amount of P500 million each in putting up the said funds.

Garcia said that Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes was the first to manifest his interest to avail the loan especially the city has been badly hit by floods.

The IBM ESC presented yesterday to the MCDCB the completed operational framework project towards an integrated development process, particularly in urban planning and transport and traffic management for Cebu.

On traffic management and transportation, IBM executive Sunimal Ediriweera noted the limited data available, which could guide planners on improving road networks and traffic plans.

Ediriweera said traffic planning and management can be improved with access to more detailed and current data.

He suggested using the existing cellular network as a source of real-time anonymous traffic movement data, or anonymous bulk location data, which can guide planners in managing traffic and informing the public of traffic situations in different areas.

As for an integrated and comprehensive land use plan, Robin Selber of the IBM ESC said this will help LGUs address growth and development concerns collectively.

She said that a lot of land use plans have been done very well, but in some cases, they only look at their own municipality or city line and yet some problems go across city lines.

“So when you deal with flooding in one place, for instance, it can affect the neighboring LGU. And so with these plans, we see as an important step to collaborate on those issues, like with traffic and transportation. That’s really the point of having coordinated and integrated plans,” Selber added.

MCDCB co-chairperson Roberto Aboitiz, the President of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. welcomed the result of IBM operational framework project for Cebu.

“They have somehow affirmed the platform we are embarking on, such as the process of collaboration among LGUs and various sectors of the community, highlighting the role of LGUs and contribution of the private sector, and the importance of data and expertise in order for plans to move forward,” Aboitiz said.  (FREEMAN)