Less talk, more action
A few days ago, I wrote here that it was pointless to listen to what Cebu City councilor Joy Young had to say about the worsening traffic situation in Cebu, as suggested by an editorial in this paper. My reason for saying so is that no matter what Young says, he simply has nothing to do with the hard decisions that have any real impact on whether or not Cebu chokes in its own traffic.
I would rather pay attention to somebody who talks less and lets his actions do the talking. One such person is Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City's north district who, interestingly, is Young's partymate in the BOPK-Liberal Party. Like President Duterte, who Young ridiculed for promising Cebuanos he would look for funds for rail projects to help ease Cebu's traffic mess, Del Mar also sees rail projects as the future for Cebu.
But unlike Duterte who only made his promise during this year's Sinulog as before becoming president he was restricted to the concerns of his Davao, Del Mar had been pushing for rail projects for Cebu for a good 30 years plus already. Since the 8th Congress in 1989 to the present 18th Congress, Del Mar has filed and refiled bills for an LRT or MRT or monorail system. There just weren't any PPP takers. Hopefully this time there will.
In the meantime, as his rail bills sit in limbo, Del Mar does not do any sitting himself. If the rails don't fly, at least there are other ways of helping ease the traffic situation. Right now he has three major road-based projects in the pipeline, all meant to address the traffic problem at three of the most-congested areas in his district.
These three projects involve the construction of skyways and/or tunnels at junctions on the stretch from Gorordo-Salinas in Lahug all the way down to Juan Luna and Juan Luna Extension in the port area near SM City; from F. Sotto all the way down Archbishop Reyes to Gov. Cuenco to Talamban junction; and from Cardinal Rosales to F. Cabahug in Mabolo to Hernan Cortes at the boundary with Mandaue City.
The first project covering the Gorordo-Salinas-Juan Luna-SM City stretch can already proceed this year with the P1.2 billion already allocated for this year and an additional P1 billion to be sought for allocation next year. Expected date of completion is next year. The second and third projects will be funded P2 billion and P1 billion, respectively, next year so construction can start by then with completion set for 2022.
These three projects will not, by themselves, solve Cebu's traffic problems. But they certainly can help ease the problem that has had Cebuanos agonizing for years. Actually, Del Mar has had similar traffic-alleviating problems proposed years ago before traffic really went from bad to worse. But these projects were opposed by some sectors who refused to give up a part of their interests for the greater good. And that is why we are now here.
Another big ticket project of Del Mar is the construction of a diversion road from Lahug to Guadalupe. This is meant to siphon off some of the traffic clogging up M. Velez and Escario streets. The project is to also start this year and expected to be finished in 2022. It has an initial funding release of P1 billion. Not many people know of these projects because Del Mar does not often talk about them. I can listen to his silence all the time.
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