Sidewalks may go to preserve old houses in Mabolo road widening

The Department of Public Works and Highways may have to individually consult owners of properties affected by the proposed widening of a portion of M. J. Cuenco Avenue.

Former north district representative Raul del Mar said that they were also willing to compromise with owners whose structures are built on a portion of the sidewalk.

“Inig implement nato sa road widening, bisan mawala ang sidewalk diha ato lang usa na tangtangan ug sidewalk. We will deal with the different issues one at a time,” he said in a meeting with property owners Saturday night.

Del mar was especially referring to a 100 year old house built near the Hipodromo access oad where the widening project is set to start.

The portion of M. J. Cuenco Avenue where the ancestral house stands has a very small sidewalk.

In order to reduce the cut on the property, the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) could forego the establishment of a sidewalk in the same area where the house stands until an agreement is reached with the house owner, Del Mar said.

Engr. Nicomedes Leonor, head of Cebu City’s engineering district, the former north district representative and incumbent north district Rep. Rachel Cutie” Del Mar met with concerned property owners on Saturday night to present the result of their resurvey on the road widening project.

Leonor said that a national highway like M. J. Cuenco Avenue should measure at least 20 meters wide and should be four lanes.

But the portion of the highway from the Hipodromo access road to C. Mina Street located beside the Mabolo church only has about two lanes, thus the need to widen it to ease traffic flow.

At least 26 properties may be affected by the road widening project.

For those whose properties will be affected by the widening, Del Mar said they would make sure that “the least of your properties will be affected the better.”

Jun Remedio, the spokesperon of the affected property owners, said they do not oppose of the widening project.

“All we are asking is for fair measurement from both sides of the road,” he said.

“We acknowledge that road widening is good but if this will affect your properties, we will try to work things out with you. we understand how you value your properties that is why we are trying to solve all your concerns as much as we can,” he said.

Jerry Gloria, owner of Mabolo Bam-i House said he is satisfied with the resurvey results.

A property owner raised a concern during the Saturday night meeting on how to preserve old trees that may be affected by the road widening.

The 2, 000 sq meter property of Aurora Ancajas Ramos, 76, for example will lose about 12 of their trees aged at least 30 years old and the grotto of their 80-year-old house.

Leonor said they could earth ball trees from Ramos’ property and transfer these to another area. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters with reports from correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao