Mayor to DPWH: Stop 6 road projects

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has formally informed the Department of Public Works and Highways of his opposition to the road concreting projects to be implemented in six of Cebu City’s busy streets.

In his letter to DPWH-7 OIC Director Ador G. Canlas, Rama said that the city government is not supporting the projects because asphalt in these streets are still of excellent quality while concreting in Guadalupe road is not necessary.

The DPWH-7 will be implementing concreting projects on Guadalupe Road, Tupas St. in barangay San Nicolas, M. Velez St., Katipunan St., V. Rama Avenue and Tres de Abril St.

Rama with some DPWH officials and City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) personnel conducted an inspection on these roads last July 25.

Rama said they found out that the road concreting projects are not necessary to be done now.

The mayor clarified he is not against development.

“Nindot ang concreting pero ang pangutana, gikinahanglan ba? Wala ko mubabag. Ang ako lang, kung unsa’y sakto, mao’y tumanon ,” Rama said. (Concreting these roads is good but the question is, is it necessary? I’m not against it. I just want them to do what is right.)

Rama said that there are other roads that need repair.

“We urge you to forward these concreting projects to more relevant locations. In lieu of the above locations, may we direct your attention instead to the dilapidated and pothole-ridden Serging Osmeña Ave., Cabahug St., M. J. Cuenco Ave., Sanciangko St. and the ongoing widening projects at M. Velez,” Rama told DPWH.

The mayor said that the DPWH can even divert the funds to the mountain barangays where farmers need farm-to-market roads to be more productive.

The said road concreting projects will be funded from the realigned budget supposedly for the flyover on Salinas – Gorordo junctions.

This flyover project was supposed to be implemented this year but due to opposition from some civic groups, it was deferred.DPWH-7 decided to realign the budget so it does not have to go back to the national treasury.

The realignment was approved by DWPH Secretary Rogelio Singson last month.All six concreting projects will cost more than P140 million including drainage systems.

Rama said that he will call for a stakeholders’ meeting soon to inform the public about these projects and get their opinion on the matter.

Rama said that DPWH did not coordinate with the city before the projects were bid out and awarded.

He said that the DPWH should coordinate with the Office of the Mayor, CITOM, Engineering department of City Hall and the Planning department.

The congestion that will be generated by the projects if all will be simultaneously implemented is one of the major concerns of the city.  (FREEMAN)