Gov commends PB Ouano for his MCDCB resolution

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia commended Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano for passing a resolution requesting support for the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) which she created last year.

The said resolution, requesting the component cities and municipalities of the Province of Cebu comprising the Mega Cebu Area to support and coordinate with the MCDCB in the preparation of a sustainable Mega Cebu regional plan, was passed last Monday.

While there are those who think that the body must be properly formed by Congressional actions, Garcia said the pressing issues of the day cannot wait.

Garcia said the bills filed in Congress take years before it is finally passed into law.

Garcia pointed out that with more traffic jams, heavily clogged drainages, sudden floods and landslides, we cannot wait for a law to be passed.

“Shall we just say, as officials and as leaders of each of our local government units, moingon lang diay ta unya nalang og naa nay balaud, (…should we just say that we will act on it later when the waves hit us?” she said.

Garcia believed that the present crop of leaders in Cebu will not turn their backs on their responsibilities.

“If we can come together in order to craft common solutions for common problems that we share, then indeed once again, through the MCDCB, Cebu will be leading the way and showing so many others that with a collaborative effort, we can address these issues and challenges and find our way to prevail over them together,” Garcia said.

If there would be such a bill passed, Garcia said it is well and good and added that she could perhaps start talking to the Congressmen in Cebu.

“But the way to go is to do something about it now because we should have done this yesterday,” she added.

The MCDCB in partnership with other private organizations is initiating the preparation of an Integrated Scenario Plan for the Metropolitan Cebu Area, using a new urbanism Form-Based Code and Smart Code methodology, under the theme, “Creating a Sustainable Mega Cebu, growing Smartly and Globally.”

Formed last year, MCDCB covers the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Danao, Carcar and Naga and the towns of Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cordova, Minglanilla and San Fernando.

In his resolution, Ouano pointed out that the power of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board to review and approve Comprehensive Land Use Plans of the component cities and municipalities was devolved to the Province, to be exercised by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. —