Engineer for a change
A Cebu-based licensed civil engineer had the privilege to study and work abroad, where he had seen the difference between other countries and the Philippines in terms of economic and urban development.
From his experience abroad, he was convinced that the country needs significant change.
“When I went to other places, I looked at things related to my field. As an engineer, I observed the infrastructure development of other countries, including those that were behind the Philippines in terms of development many years ago. Now it is the Philippines being left behind. It is ironic since many Filipino civil engineers are working in these countries and are to be partly credited with their impressive infrastructure development. Whereas, the Filipino civil engineers in our country could not design and build the same infrastructure,” said Fortunato “Jun” Sanchez, civil engineer and managing director of Socor Construction Corp.
Sanchez completed a degree in civil engineering at the University of San Carlos (USC) and acquired a masters degree of the same course at Stanford University. He was a trustee of USC and held a high position in several engineering organizations, including the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.
He was also once commissioned by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as an accreditor of civil engineering schools nationwide.
Before he became part of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) as the subcommittee chair on infrastructure and utilities, Sanchez has already been actively involved in movements pushing for better urban planning and sustainable development in the cities of Cebu since 2007.
The MCDCB formulates integrated development strategies, policies and standards addressing issues on the areas of integrated development, transport and traffic, pollution control, flood control, public safety, road improvement, urban renewal, coastal resources and watershed, climate change and disaster risk reduction, health and sanitation and environmental management, and facilitates and monitors the implementation of these in Metro Cebu.
“From the very start, when the first two-lane flyover in a four-lane cross intersection in Cebu was built sometime in 1993, I was already against it. I wrote to a local paper the reason why such a kind of flyover is not the best solution to solve traffic at small intersections. But no one listened to me then,” he shared.
He has spoken in public hearings where he became the voice of engineers who saw some lapses in the government’s system of implementing infrastructure projects. He has joined civil society groups that decry construction projects that can hamper the creation of a livable city.
“Our political leaders should not only identify infrastructure projects, but also the problem that goes with it. With this system, engineering mistakes will be avoided, saving the local government unit from financial losses that can be spent on more sound infrastructure projects,” Sanchez explained.
He expressed dismay over projects that cost so much but have little benefits. Making Cebu’s government leaders and the general public aware of the necessity of proper planning and design as what other countries did is crucial to achieving better infrastructure development.
“We are losing hundreds of millions of pesos in Cebu alone each year because of engineering mistakes. By professionalizing engineering in our country, we can save the same amount each year,” Sanchez said.
The engineer is one of the main movers of the Mega Cebu Project, particularly in the integrated development committee. Rallying groups and individuals to support the vision of Mega Cebu Project is one great challenge owing to the fact that each of the cities and municipalities of Metro Cebu has its own urban development plan.
With the 13 cities and municipalities comprising Metro Cebu as defined by the Regional Development Council and subscribed to by the MCDCB and partners in the private and business sectors, the Mega Cebu project pushes for an integrated development planning geared toward sustainability founded on economic prosperity, livability, social equity and inclusion, and ecological integrity.
“I believe there’s a need to come together and cooperate. There’s something wrong in our system that we need to change,” he said.
But Sanchez’s passion to affect positive change has not wavered despite the odds. He remained firm in his belief that something should be done to significantly improve the way we do things.
“Many cities across the world that have poorer general economic conditions than Cebu have ranked higher in urban competitiveness because of the good quality and sufficiency of their infrastructures. They have even progressed through time while Cebu has not and continues to go down in rank,” he shared.
These cities are found in underdeveloped African countries such as Senegal, Ethiopia and Guinea.
“Still, I am very much hopeful, for we are already making steps, although small steps, towards implementing the objectives of Mega Cebu,” he added.
At present, the different committees in MCDCB are holding meetings to come up with concrete plans on how to go about their projects and are forging partnerships with individuals and institutions to promote Mega Cebu.
What started out as a frustration has fueled and inspired a bigger cause in his person, as a Cebuano and a Filipino citizen.
“We just cannot stay where we are right now. We just cannot let poverty and suffering of many Filipinos continue. We can do better,” he said.
