Critics: ‘Flyovers an expensive band-aid’

FORMER north district congressman Raul Del Mar said having flyovers is about saying “no” to congestion and “no” to traffic jams in road intersections.

The Movement for Livable Cebu (MLC) is unconvinced with convenor Joel Lee saying that building flyovers is an “expensive band-aid solution to the city’ traffic problems.”

To prove his point the elder del Mar, who was guest of the Lamdag television program of Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN) Channel 47, yesterday  cited improvements in traffic flow in barangay Banilad and A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City.

When asked about the impact of the proposed Gorordo Avenue flyover to the Asilo de Milagrosa church and orphanage, Del Mar said, “We will not even consider touching any part of Asilo.”

Del Mar has been championing the construction of flyovers in the city with his daughter, incumbent north district Rep. Rachel “Cutie” Del Mar.

On road widening, Del Mar said that like flyovers, widening of roads is one of the solutions to traffic congestion in the city.

“Road widenings and flyovers cannot solve traffic jams but can only minimize it,” he said.

Del Mar said though that the implementation of the proposed flyovers in Gorordo and M.J. Cuenco is suspended to address opposition concerns and to consult more with stakeholders.

“We already conducted consultations with the owners of the affected properties, the City Council, the drivers and I guess it’s ‘over-consulted’ already, and discussed.” Del Mar said.

Lee, however, reiterated that without the benefit of a comprehensive development plan, “multi-million infrastructure projects will only be stop-gap solutions at best and a pitiful waste of public funds.”

Lee said the city is not limited to flyovers and road widening.

In fact, “modern and effective solutions are available and working wonderfully in Europe and elsewhere in Asia,” Lee said. /Rhea Ruth V. Rosell, Reporter