Amid opposition from a religious order and other stakeholders, proponents of two flyover projects in Cebu City aren’t done yet.
In fact they are looking to build a network of seven flyover projects in the city’s northern district, including one near the Carmelites Church in barangay Mabolo.
But former congressman Raul del Mar said this flyover will be built along F. Cabahug Street and not along Juan Luana Avenue as originally planned to prevent interruptions on church services.
“In the future we will have to revisit this plan to complete the network of flyovers that we planned for Cebu City north,” said del Mar, whose daughter Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar of Cebu City’s north district is pushing for two flyover projects.
The elder del Mar explained his idea of a network of seven overpasses in a dialogue with businessman Joel Lee, spokesman of the Movement for a Liveable Cebu, formerly the Stop Cebu Flyovers Movement. Lee detailed their private meeting in the group’s Facebook page.
The two flyover projects along the intersections of Gorordo and Archbishop Reyes Avenues and General Maxilom and M. J. Cuenco Avenues are being opposed by the movement and their allies.
The movement in particular set their sights on the proposed flyover in Maxilom and MJ Cuenco Avenue whose construction is seen to damage portions of the Asilo dela Milagrosa Church in the area.
The elder del Mar said his daughter asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to modify their flyover design so the structure won’t touch even the perimeter fence of the Asilo dela Milagrosa church.
“Cutie has already requested DPWH not to touch even the wall, much less any part of the church grotto,” he said.
Without prejudice
Del Mar said a status quo will be maintained on the flyover’s right side where the Asilo church is located.
Construction of this flyover project is moved to February next year to accommodate the changes, he said.
“We always make sure that in undertaking the project, we don’t prejudice the religious communities,” del Mar said.
Del Mar said he envisioned a network of seven flyover projects for the north district to address traffic congestion.
When he was still congressman of the city’s north district, del Mar said he already had three flyovers built.
“But if in the future, if the traffic worsens we will have to go up and build skyways,” he said.
Del Mar said another traffic solution is the enforcement of a no stopping or no left or right turn policy on some city roads.
Local concern
However, he could not be certain if the same status quo would also apply on other structures located on the flyover’s right side.
Of the P300 million appropriated for each of the Gorordo and Archbishop Reyes Avenues flyovers, P150 million is set aside for construction while the remaining P150 million is for road widening on both sides of the flyover.
Del Mar said despite the attacks against them on the flyover projects, he and Cutie will stick to addressing only the issues raised by the opponents.
“We will never be offensive,” he said.
Del Mar said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama should not have bothered President Benigno Aquino III with his opposition to the flyover projects since it is a local concern that can be addressed by the regional DPWH office.
Mayor Rama pushed for road widening instead of flyovers to address the city’s traffic congestion.
Since Cebu City only has four-lane roads, the elder del Mar said the most that could be done is to use the two middle lanes for a flyover project.
In a post entitled “Private Meeting with del Mar” on the Stop Cebu Flyover Movement’s Facebook page, businessman Joel Lee said he presented their group’s position against the flyover projects point by point to the former congressman in last Friday’s meeting.
’My common sense’
He said he tried to explain the group’s thinking behind their opposition to the flyovers based on the principles of livability and sustainability and the need for a valid “broader Cebu” urban master plan in lieu of the flyovers.
Lee said del Mar also presented a point-by-point argument for the flyovers and reiterated his conviction that the flyovers are needed for Cebu.
Lee said del Mar told him that concepts on livability and sustainability would take a decade to implement in Cebu City.
At best, Lee said del Mar proposed that the “flyover solution” be reconciled with these concepts of livability and sustainability.
He said del Mar reasoned that without the additional flyovers, the benefits of the three existing flyovers will not be enjoyed by Cebu City residents.
“When asked about the basis for the flyover solution being offered to Cebu, he (del Mar) answered with great conviction: My Common Sense! And thus the glaring question begs to be answered: whose common sense should we allow to prevail?,” Lee said.
As this developed, more groups joined the opposition to the flyover projects.
Cultural value
The Young Ladies Association of Charity Inc. (YLAC) called for a master plan and said opponents should be heard on the issue.
The Committee on Sacred Art and Architecture of the Commission for Cultural Heritage of the Church of the Cebu Archdiocese also released a manifesto expressing its “strong opposition” to the flyovers.
They said the projects would diminish the heritage value of the Asilo dela Milagrosa Church and the Carreta Catholic cemetery.
The Committee cited Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 which prescribes the protection of cultural property against “exportation, modification or demolition.”
The committee also cited sec.32 of RA 10066 which prescribes that government agencies should consult with the other cultural agencies in the implementation of the programs or projects with cultural and heritage significance.
“ We earnestly appeal to the proponent of the project, Rep Rachel del Mar and the DPWH to respect and uphold the law,” stated the manifesto signed by Msgr Carlito Pono, chairperson of the Cebu Archdioceasan Commission for the Culture Heritage Church.
Flyover opponents earlier met with Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma last August 4 to ask for guidance and discernment on the issue.