Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and former north district representative Raul del Mar have finally agreed on one thing – the need to expand M.J. Cuenco Avenue in Mabolo.
But Rama said this should not disadvantage property owners in the area where over 300 houses will be affected.
“The road widening has to be fair and just and it should not go against public policy and customs,” he said.
Del Mar suggested to DPWH to reduce the width of the proposed road from a standard 20 meter design to 17 meters to include a meter sidewalk on both sides, after some residents complained about losing property.
If needed, sidewalks may even be canceled in areas where ancestral houses are located to preserve them, said del Mar.
Del Mar and engineer Nicomedes Leonor, head of the Cebu City Engineering district, met on Friday afternoon with property and structure owners who will be affected by the project.
The road widening project will start near the Rough Rider garage beside the Carreta Cemetery along M.J. Cuenco Avenue up to C. Mina Road beside the Mabolo church.
Resident Amparo Urot complained during the consultation about a 5.36 meter setback that would split her house, built in 1910. She inherited the house from her father, former Mabolo councilor Pensoy Urot.
The Urot ancestral house is across the barangay Hipodromo community road.
“My father’s house will be divided in half,” she said.
Del Mar asked Leonor to revisit Urot’s property and do a second survey to see if the setback can be reduced.
He also asked for a revision of the road widening map to consider reducing the width of the road and sidewalks.
A standard four-lane road is 20 meters wide with a two-meter wide sidewalk on both sides, according to the DPWH.
Leonor said DPWH Regional Director Ador Canlas has agreed to reduce the width to 18 meters.
Del Mar suggested trimming it further to 17 meters to include a meter sidewalk on both sides and canceling sidewalks in areas where there are ancestral houses.
But Mayor Rama said he can’t agree to cancel the sidewalk requirements because there are more pedestrians who need them than there are motorists who need the road for their vehicles.
The mayor said it was good enough that dialogs were being held with affected property owners.
“If we end up with nothing, you might just have to compromise and and end up with something,” said Rama.
Rama said that if he sees the DPWH acting unfairly in the project, he will step in “ for the purpose of inquiring where we can be of help because I know that some people cant just articulate on their concerns.” /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters