Show yourselves, pro-flyover backers told

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama questioned the timing of a feeding program done in barangay Kinasang-an, southern Cebu City, since it coincided with a signature campaign supporting the city’s two flyover projects.

The mayor said Kinasang barangay captain Susan Enriquez informed him that a petition paper supporting the flyover projects was circulated in time for a children’s feeding program in sitios Lower Paradise III and Villa Agbati last Saturday.

Rama said any denial by the organizers of their role in the signature campaign is “an act of cowardice.”

If the campaign is initiated by the group of Rep. Rachel del Mar of Cebu City’s north district, Rama said he’s challenging them to come out into the open.

Del Mar, a proponent of the projects, denied involvement in the signature campaign, which she referred to as “disinformation from the other side.”

She said the signature campaign may have come from someone who lived in the city’s north district.

“This is something very revolting, especially when they say that the campaign is done by people who are against the flyover projects,” Rama said.

He said such petitions should be circulated when the projects are being discussed in public.

Rama said that going into the south district to get pro-flyover signatures was also disturbing.

The mayor is pushing for road-widening instead of flyovers, saying the projects would affect business and historical landmarks.

The mayor said he would elevate his concern before the Regional Development Council (RDC) and President Benigno Aquino III.

Engineer Nicomedes Leonor of the Cebu City engineering district said the flyover proposed along M.J. Cuenco and General Maxilom Avenues will be bidded out to be followed by the the flyover proposed along Gorordo and Archbishop Reyes Avenue. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac