LGUs urged: Support "Mega Cebu" project

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Province's component cities and municipalities that comprise "Mega Cebu" area have been urged to support and coordinate with the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board in the preparations for a Sustainable Mega Cebu Regional Plan.

In a resolution, Board Member Thadeo Ouano said the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) headed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in partnership with other organizations, is initiating the preparation of an Integrated Plan for the “Megapolitan Cebu Area” and the support of the component cities and municipalities are essential.

The Board passed the resolution yesterday.

The creation of a region called "Mega Cebu" is being spearheaded by businessman Roberto Aboitiz in collaboration with the private sector and government through the MCDCB.

Aside from Aboitiz, six other businessmen sit in the MCDCB, including Eric Ng Mendoza (president, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry); Samuel Chioson (president, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry); James Velasquez (country general manager, IBM Philippines); Felomino Lim (president, Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce); Gordon Lan Joseph (president, Cebu Business Club) and Bunny Pages (president, Cebu Leads Foundation).

The MCDBC will serve as an informal organization that will be looking at areas for collaboration and help make the development plan for the so-called "Mega Cebu".

The component local government units covering Mega Cebu include the cities of Danao, Carcar, Naga and Talisay and the municipalities of Cordova, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Compostela, Liloan and Consolacion. The Provincial Planning Development Office-Cebu Province and two government agencies, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board-7 and the Department of Interior and Local Government-7, are also helping in the project.

Last week, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI) conducted a five-day learning event aimed at crafting solid and integrated plans in creating a sustainable Metro Cebu.

Government officials, planners, architects, engineers, educators, business people, NGO leaders, community members and students gathered in a productive exchange of ideas and in drafting methods and techniques geared towards strengthening the capacity and proficiency of local planners on the possibilities of reaching the target of creating a sustainable Metro Cebu.

With the theme “Creating Future Cities: Where Do We Begin,” the event discussed and came up with plans and measures to counter the present phenomenon of Metro Cebu’s rapid urbanization that includes serious social, economical and environmental challenges that resulted in declining competitiveness and quality of life.

Aboitiz, in one of the Rotary forums, said that Cebu can become a mega city if guided by a unified masterplan and that the "Mega Cebu" vision is a strategic opportunity to think of Metro Cebu as a city-region. – (FREEMAN)