Cutie wants LDC to reconsider flyover project

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel “Cutie” Del Mar will ask the Local Development Council to reconsider its move of not supporting the plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways to construct two more flyovers along Juan Luna Ave.

Former congressman Raul Del Mar, who serves as chief of staff of the congressional office of his daughter, said they had been waiting for that meeting of the LDC so that they can explain to the members of the said projects.

“We were waiting for that meeting of the local development council to be scheduled precisely to explain the merits for the approval of the flyover projects. Unfortunately we failed to attend the LDC meeting last Friday because it was held when we were out of town,” the elder Del Mar said.

He added that they will just wait for the next meeting of the LDC to request for reconsideration of its decision.

The LDC, headed by Mayor Michael Rama, is composed of all barangay captains of the city’s 80 barangays and 56 representatives of different non-government organizations that are accredited by the Cebu City Council.

During the LDC meeting last Friday the barangay captains and NGO representatives agreed that instead of spending the P430 million for the construction of two flyover projects, it would be better if the funds will be used for drainage projects.

None of the LDC members opposed the move to scrap the planned construction of the two flyover projects as proposed by the DPWH. But DPWH District Engineer Nicomedes Leonor said the best thing to do is to add more drainage projects without deleting the flyovers from the list.

The DPWH-7 regional office had proposed to build a P230-million flyover at corner MJ Cuenco and Juan Luna avenues, including the cost of the widening of the road within the vicinity of the structure, and another P200 million for the flyover to be also constructed in Juan Luna and Cardinal Rosales avenues.

Rama said the city does not need more flyovers, but rather wider roads. He has been vocal against the construction of more flyovers in the city believing that road widening is the solution to the city’s traffic problem.  (FREEMAN)