Who wants flyovers?

Recently the Department of Public Works and Highways unveiled a number of infrastructure projects for Cebu City that included a proposal to put up two more flyovers. In a way we are very happy that the government has allocated a budget for more infrastructure, but the  problem is that the additional flyovers  were proposed without consultation with the local government  and other stakeholders.

The projects were not demand-driven.  They were  unilaterally submitted by former congressman Raul del Mar of the city’s north district and continued by his successor and daughter Rep. Rachel Marguerite del Mar.

I think the key to successfully implementing the projects is to get the nod of  stakeholders and local leaders. It is correct for the infrastructure development committee of the Regional Development Council to refrain from approving the proposal because it lacks the approval of the Cebu City Development Council (CDC). The commitee is also  trying to avoid another controversy. I  hoped  our politicians  defer to the opinion of experts who conducted technical studies on  the matter.

Politicians should stick to politics and leave urban planning to the experts. While we commend Raul del Mar for his sincere intention to help ease traffic problems in the city, it is hoped that he would give due importance to the city officials and stakeholders, and consult them about any proposal for projects in Cebu City.

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Lately we’ve seen major road accidents involving public  buses in  roads of Cebu province. One bus hit the center island and railings in Minglanilla town leaving 29 passengers injured.

The driver smelled of liquor and admitted to earlier racing with another bus. Another accident involved a bus that crashed in Naga and overturned in a road canal, injuring over 25 passengers. .

The accidents should be thoroughly investigated by  transport authorities who should impose the proper penalty on  erring drivers. Strict enforcement of  traffic rules and penalties is needed so that  drivers will be more careful on the road,  and stop engaging in vices like drinking hard liquor and snorting shabu.

Operators should not take lightly their responsibility in transporting passengers to their destinations. They should  exercise the prudence of a good father of the family in choosing drivers for their buses.

Drivers shouldn’t be drinking or using drugs at all.

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The Cebu City Council sessions have become interesting now that Councilors Edgardo Labella, Joey Daluz and Ronald Cuenco have left the Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) to join Councilor Edu Rama and Team Rama.

We now see an  exchange of views that we rarely saw before in the City Council when the three gentlemen were still BO-PK members.  The council is in a quandary what  to do with the  three. Labella holds a crucial position as majority floor leader. So far none of the three have resigned from their posts in the council while their peers refuse to sack them from their committees and positions.

The three councilors intimated that they are leaving it to the council to decide what becomes of their  positions but the body has refused to reorganize. The rest of the councilors don’t want  the three men to look like  heroes or victims of  the maneuvers of the dominant BO-PK.

It is hoped that the council can settle the impasse soon for the sake of  sanity. But what is  important now is that we  see a  new era of debate between  council members. I bet the discussions will be exciting, and sometimes heated.  This would benefit the quality of legislation  and the people of Cebu City.