Kudos to the men and women of the 888 New Forum, notably Mr. Robert “Bobby†Lim who conceptualized and made this project a reality seven years ago. Indeed, it is no ordinary task to handle a weekly Media Forum like what the 888 News Forum does every single week because you have to line up your guests on a weekly basis. Kudos first and foremost to the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, especially its General Manager Hans Hauri for being so supportive of this weekly media activity. The sponsorship of Marco Polo Plaza hotel is crucial and a major contributor to the success of this endeavor.
While the 888 News Forum is celebrating its seventh year, two years ago, when I started to handle MyTV channel 30, I got Bobby Joseph to link the 888 News Forum on a weekly TV program so that those who missed the interviews on the evening news, could catch up on channel 30 as it is played in its entirety with the proper replays. So once again, kudos to the 888 New Forum, notably its workhorse Mr. Ely Baquero and host Mr. Ricky Poca and Inday Malou Guanzon Apalisok. More power to you!
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What did I tell you? The problem in this country is that, it is always mired in unnecessary bureaucracy… where the interest of the majority of our people is secondary only to the interest of a few squatters. This is what we’ve seen at that road widening project that I initiated along M. Velez St. which the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has now taken eight long years just to widen this less than 200 meters of road way and until this date, the DPWH hasn’t told us when this project will be finished!
While we’re on the subject of road widening, my good friend, DPWH District Engineer Nicomedes S. Leonor, Jr. gave me a copy of his letter to DPWH Regional Director Mr. Ador G. Canlas in response to Mr. Canlas earlier letter to him seeking clarification of the widening of Gorordo Ave. That letter was sent to Atty. Brando P. Raya Attorney IV of DPWH to inform him about a column we wrote in the Philippine Star last June 29th on the supposed widening of Gorordo Ave. which we dubbed as two “Super delayed projects.†This project was part and parcel of the proposed construction of the flyover on Gorordo Ave. which has already been cancelled.
Call it a clear case of misunderstanding. But the road widening I was seeking was not the one affecting the flyover area, but rather the road from the University of the Philippines (UP-Lahug) towards the Doña Modesta Gaisano St. and bridge going towards Beverly Hills. As we’ve already pointed out many times before; if you looked at the width of this road along UP-Lahug, it is one of the best examples of a proper roadway, which is wide enough with the proper sidewalks in place. But just a few meters towards JY Square, this road narrows, to the point that it is the principal cause of traffic congestion in the area…where illegal parking takes place every hour.
I dare say that the DPWH must correct this National Road and remove all offending structures that encroach this roadway where everyone passes. It’s about time that the interest of the majority be made into a priority by the DPWH instead of what is happening today, where there is a total chaos in the area. When there’s a CITOM enforcer in the area, it helps a lot to decongest traffic in the area. How much more if and when the DPWH finally restores the rightfully width of this part of Gorordo Ave.?
Lastly, I’m glad that Mayor Michael Rama has taken a keen interest in the parallel road to Escario St. which starts from V. Rama Ave. along the Guadalupe Barangay Hall towards the University of the Philippines (UP-Lahug). But the news report that quoted Mayor Rama who said that a study should be conducted on this project only reveals how little Mayor Rama knows about this project.
Actually, 10 years ago, the DPWH already studied this road project and came up with an estimated cost of more than P300 million as it means constructing two major bridges, one along the Guadalupe River and another along the Lahug Creek. But like what I just said, that was 10 years ago. Perhaps the projected cost has increased at this time.
Mind you, this was a priority at that time. But why was it stricken off the priority list? I could only sense that the powers that be at that time had other interests. Then former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña had the DPWH erect a bridge over the Guadalupe River passing through the Guadalajara Village. This meant that this road wasn’t going to be parallel to Escario St. anymore and passes through a private subdivision. What Cebu City needs is a wide avenue which should be as wide as Escario St. so people coming from Lahug doesn’t have to pass Escario St. anymore to add to this already congested roadway. But will we see this road in our lifetime? How I wish DPWH could fulfill our lifelong dreams.
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Email: vsbobita@gmail.com