Naga City bridge expansion, other projects set before ban

The groundbreaking of the P28.2 million Langtad bridge expansion project was held at barangay Langtad, Naga City yesterday, the first of the P400 million worth of infrastructure projects in Cebu’s 1st district.

“This is like manna from heaven,” Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district said in his acceptance speech.

The event was attended by Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district, who “outsourced” some of the funds from his pork barrel.

The fund was intended to pay for two flyover projects among other programs but it was later withdrawn by Osmeña following opposition from Mayor Michael Rama, who wanted to use the funds to widen the roads instead.

The Department of Public Works and Highways’s (DPWH) 2nd engineering district led the groundbreaking event.

Osmeña said the P400 million in projects for Cebu’s 1st district will proceed before the election ban late this month.

Osmeña said the P400 million allocation from the national government was supposed to be allocated for two flyover projects near Sudlon, Lahug and near JY Square in the same barangay.

With Rama opposing the flyovers, Osmeña had the money realigned for road improvement projects in the south.

But Rama also questioned the proposed cementing of still good roads like V. Rama Avenue. “In the next two to five years, traffic will be unbearable in Gorordo Avenue. It will be worst if by that time, they will decide to already build a flyover. But let it be said. Don’t say that I did not warn you,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said he turned over the P400 million for Cebu City to Cebu’s 1st district because Gullas needed help for his proposed expansion of the south highway.

Expanding the south road will disperse development to the countryside and strengthen Cebu’s economic linkages with neighboring island provinces of Bohol, Negros Oriental and Occidental and Leyte.

He said the realignment was also his way of thanking the district for voting for his ally Hilario “Junjun” Davide III in the 2010 election and also to show them what he can do to help their district if Davide wins in the May 13 elections.

Though committed to help One Cebu gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district, Gullas recognized Davide in yesterday’s ground breaking activity in Langtad.

“I wanted to tell the people of Naga that Congressman Tomas Osmena is helping Junjun and Yayoy,” Gullas said.

Gullas said Junjun “is a very worthy son of a father (former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.)” who helped establish trial courts in the cities of Talisay, Naga and Carcar.