ANTI-flyover advocates in the Movement for a Liveable Cebu (MLC) expressed dismay over the verbal sparring between Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Rep. Rachel del Mar which sidetracked Friday’s meeting of the Cebu City Development Council.
“We were highly astonished and deeply disappointed that one or two persons can derail a process of approving much needed projects of our city,” said Marc Canton, lead convenor of MLC.
The CDC meeting adjourned after lengthy floor debate, skipping the main agenda which was to approve P900 million worth of projects in the 2013 Annual Investment Plan of Cebu city.
The mayor has been opposing the rise of new flyovers, which are priority projects of del Mar.
Del Mar strongly objected to the mayor’s refusal to recognize her father Raul as her proxy in the CDCC.
“We ask what about the fundamental rights of 70 plus people who were there and wanted to get on with the meeting? What about the fundamental right of the public who were not heard before the projects were announced?” asked Canton.
Several barangay captains allied with del Mar didn’t return after the lunch break, forcing the mayor to adjourn about 1 p.m.
The CDCC is presided by the mayor and has as members barangay captains and non-government organization (NGO) representatives who compose at least 40 percent.
“I am disappointed that the interests of the city were put on hold during the debates,” said Rudy Alix, a founding member of the MLC.
“What authority does a congressman have to push for projects that never went through proper legal processes?” he asked.
During the extended floor debate, an exaxperate Cathy Ruiz, co-chairperson of the CDC admonished both feuding officials, saying “Shame on you for bringing your politics into this body.”
She said that as public officials they should behave with “proper conduct and decorum” and remember the role of CDC members to craft policies and endorse projects for Cebu City’s growth.
“Let us leave partisan interests outside the door,” she appealed….”I did not come here to get a front row reat to another sparring bout. I am here because I love Cebu City.”
The del Mars want the CDC to reconsider its July resolution dropping flyovers from its list of priority projects endorsed to the Regional Development Council.
Former congressman del Mar isn’t too worried about the non-inclusion of the two flyover projects proposed in barangays Mabolo and Kasambagan in Cebu City.
He said he saw the two flyovers listed as priority projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during a meeting with the DPWH regional office on Thursday.
“This means that it is not yet the end of the road for our flyover projects,” he said.
But del Mar could not also say when theOctober 2012 DPWH moratorium on all flyovers would be lifted.
“There is no rush for that. Since it was DPWH who issued the moratorium, they will also have to be the ones to lift it,” he said.
The CCDC deleted the flyover projects in the city’s list of priority projects in their June meeting.
Raul said the flyovers already have RDC endorsements from previous years.
The Mabolo flyover was endorsed by the RDC in resolutions passed on March 14, 2008; July 11, 2008; March 19, 2009; July 24, 2010; and February 22, 2011.
The Kasambagan flyover was issued RDC endorsement in resolutions passed on February 3, 2005; March 14, 2008; July 11, 2008; and March 19, 2009.