Cebu leaders talk progress in rare gathering

CEBU, Philippines - In what can be considered a rare occasion, prominent Cebu officials from different political groups, including Governor Hilario Davide III and former governor and current third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia, gathered in one room to discuss the province’s development.

Aside from Davide and Garcia, the others present were Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, sixth district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing, decond district Rep. Wilfredo Caminero, Cebu City Rep. Raul Del Mar, Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy and Talisay City Mayor Johnny Delos Reyes, all affiliated with the Liberal Party. 

Rep. Gwen Garcia was joined by her partymate fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon at the plenary hall of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated building in Parian downtown Cebu City.

They discussed a coordinating body, which will look into traffic, planning, and general development in line with the Cebu’s rapid urbanization.

The body, the Mega Cebu Development Authority (MCDA), is a coordination board similar to the Metro Manila Development Authority. It is expected to be lobbied in Congress for approval as Cebuano solons generally approved of the ideals incorporated in its proposed House Bill.

One of its roles is coordination among LGUs in times of disasters and emergencies. This will be stipulated in Del Mar will author and which will be co-sponsored by the rest of the Cebu-based congressmen.

The plans of the MCDA are in line with the study created by JICA on the Metro Cebu area whose urban problems include traffic, flooding, water supply, among others.   

Cortes has aired the importance of de-politicizing the body considering that the officials have limited terms and the MCDA appointees should go beyond the term limits of the officials who appoint them.

Salimbangon, for his part, pointed out that the MCDA may not benefit his district, considering that none of the towns or cities there are part of the MCDA.

Bobby Aboitiz of RAFI said the primary effect of MCDA to the outskirts of the province will be felt through improved travel time from urban centers to the towns, which have stakes in tourism.

Garcia added that the change of the name from Metro Cebu to Mega Cebu was formulated, in fact, to highlight that the benefits of the MCDA will ripple through the towns and not just with its existing members. — (FREEMAN)