Practical, doable solutions, not mega projects

After last Monday’s horrendous traffic that stalled practically every human activity near the old Mactan-Mandaue Bridge causing people’s tempers and blood pressure to rise, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its contractor were forced to reschedule work hours in paving the lane from Lapu-Lapu City going to the bridge.

The public works are now being done from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. when people are no longer in the streets and traffic is light. The project is set to be finished within the month or early next month at the latest.

There’s no point in flogging a dead horse, but I really don’t understand why DPWH officials failed to anticipate the traffic mess when the agency and its contractor closed one half of the lane going to the bridge from Lapu-Lapu City.

Are they living in another planet, unaware that traffic in the old and new bridges is always busy all-year round owing to the big volume of vehicles passing through Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue and air passengers coming in and out of Mactan Cebu International Airport? You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand the consequence of a one-lane bridge in the movement of vehicles around Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

I think hundreds of taxi units were trapped in the afternoon well up to late night last Monday because I had a hard time getting a taxi ride near SM City Cebu that day. Radio stations were flooded with calls from irate people venting their frustrations about waiting and wasting two hours at least to get to their destination that normally takes only 30 minutes.

Later in the day and week, the discussion shifted to solutions, how to ease the traffic problem going to Lapu-Lapu City because it impacts adversely on business.  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Rep. Eduardo Gullas (1st district, Cebu) offered a solution for the long term: constructing a third bridge that would connect Cordova to the South Road Properties.

For his part, Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmena suggested that a roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) port be set up at Shell Island in Cordova, which would dock at the Malacañang sa Sugbo, Compania Maritima or Pier 1. Instead of a 3rd bridge, Tommy batted for the Bus Rapid Transit system from Cebu City to the Mactan Cebu International Airport and an underwater tunnel from Cebu City to Cordova town.

Rep. Gullas foresees the underwater tunnel will not gain President Benigno Aquino III’s support because it calls for reclamation works. Malacañang is under severe pressure to stop all reclamation projects, presumably because of environmental concerns.

The long term solutions may be valid in the sense that the proposals would complement the upgrade of the Mactan Cebu International Airport. But whether its a 3rd bridge, BRT or underground tunnel, they all need to be carefully studied because all are costly not only in terms of budget but also environmentally.

We can’t be forever building bridges and flyovers to ease traffic problems, or we end up with solutions becoming problems in the end. Cebu City officials should be aware that there’s a sector of the population striking for the middle ground, i.e., approaches that don’t eat up much taxpayers’ money, don’t harm the environment but are effective nonetheless.

In the short term, what are we to do with traffic congestion in the routes from Cebu City going to Lapu-Lapu?

This pedestrian supports more ferry boat rides from Cebu City to Lapu Lapu because it’s doable and ferries offer the best alternative to the riding public. Mayor Mike Rama can ask President Aquino to open up of the docking berth behind Malacañang sa Sugbo to enable more operators to offer ferry services.

The ferry ride from Cebu City’s Pier 3 to Muelle Osmeña in Lapu Lapu takes only 15 to 20 minutes. It takes the passenger to a major Catholic pilgrim church, the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Virgin of the Rule. From there, one can take the jeepney or a taxi to his destination in Lapu-Lapu City or Cordova town.

I always ride the ferry going to Lapu-Lapu in November when I get invited to join the town fiesta in honor of the Virgen de la Regla. Traffic going to this northern city is next to impossible during this season, so I opt for the ferry. It is fast, enjoyable and cheap. And what’s more, one is not soaked in dust and toxic fumes emitted by motor vehicles.

The time does not call for mega projects but practical solutions that need only a gathering of the mayor and ferry boat operators and a parallel representation with the Office of the President.

I hope our public officials transcend their narrow political interests, come together and achieve what is best for the people.