Jonas backs mega Cebu masterplan

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes finds nothing wrong with the Mega Cebu Masterplan proposal.

What he is concerned about however is whether the project can be sustained.

Cortes fears the plan just might become another Metro Cebu Development Project which eventually disbanded because every time a new leader of the board came, new priorities came with him, and the projects previously lined up were never implemented or completed.

“I’m for it provided nga tarongon ni sa saktong paagi kay bisan ug unsa kanindot sa usa ka proyekto ug way sense of permanence mahu’g lang gihapon ug way ayo,” the mayor said.

Cortes said the flooding in Mandaue could even be attributed to the disbandment of the MCDP as the drainage project that it initiated was not completed.

The mayor said the agency that should undertake the project should be the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) since it has the full authority to oversee the proposed project.

Businessman Roberto Aboitiz earlier this week proposed to fellow businessmen a unified Mega Cebu Masterplan.

He said the project can be achieved through the collaboration of the private sector and government in the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDB) headed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Aboitiz said to achieve this goal, proper planning and decision making by the public sector side should go beyond city boundaries of the 13 cities and towns from Carcar City in the south to Danao City in the north.

The vision for Mega Cebu would have a 25 to 30 year timeframe, and to achieve the vision, all government leaders of the 13 cities and members of civil society and business groups should come together and collaborate to come up with a more integrated and inclusive development plan for Metro Cebu.

Some areas for collaboration are transport and traffic management, infrastructure and utilities, environment and health, public safety and security. - THE FREEMAN