Test of political will

The tug-of-war between proponents of two flyover projects initiated by Cebu City north Rep. Rachel del Mar and a multi-sectoral group vehemently against the plan has reached the ears of President Benigno Aquino III.

Despite the frenzied efforts of Rep. Del Mar and her father Raul to have the project implemented next month, construction schedules have gone awry. The Department of Public Works and Highways announced the deferment of constructing flyovers near barangay Caretta and in Gorordo Avenue. The status quo remains until such time the issues raised by stakeholders including Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and the City Traffic Office Management Office are resolved.

The memo signed by Romeo Momo, DPWH undersecretary for regional operations addressed to Regional Director Pedro Herrera was followed by an announcement of a public hearing to be held tomorrow, Oct. 28. I understand this is not going to push through. Instead, Joel Lee and Joy Onazawa, members of the Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC) met with Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson yesterday.

Some quarters believe that the flyover project is a done deal and what the opponents have accomplished so far is merely to extend the time of debate. The situation recalls the controversy surrounding the construction of the Banilad-Talamban flyover, which was also blocked by many sectors including subdivision dwellers and businessmen but to no avail. The simple reason for riding roughshod over popular sentiment was that the budget had been secured and the technical requirements were met. In other words, the vigorous efforts of the oppositors were no match for the political influence of the proponents.

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Cebu under Archbishop Jose S. Palma will also issue its own stand on the controversy, and if initial information on the ground is any indication, the local Church is also set to block the project.

Archbishop Palma received father and daughter Raul and Rachel del Mar in the archbishop’s residence early this month to listen to the rationale of the projects. After hearing them out, the prelate called MLC convenors to hear their side. Since Palma was in the middle of presiding over the annual retreat of some 300 archdiocesan priests, he asked MLC reps Rudy and Louella Alix to hold the presentation at the end of the weeklong retreat. They managed to enlighten 200 members of the local clergy in two settings.

Immediately after the couple’s presentation the priests wanted to sign a document to manifest their opposition, but the senior members prevailed upon them to wait for a formal statement by the Cebu archdiocese. The statement is due to come out any day now.

I don’t know if our priests discuss the significance of the controversy and the thrust of the Cebu Archdiocese under Jose Palma because I think what the prelate did was to remind the priests of the need to listen to the problems besetting the people and to be involved in looking for just solutions.

Many are watching if Pres. Noynoy Aquino would handle the flyover issue based solely on politics. The proponents are political allies who helped him win the 2010 presidential elections although former Rep. Raul del Mar and former Cebu City mayor, now congressman Tommy Osmeña were once part of the coalition that supported the administration of former president Gloria Arroyo.

P-Noy should consider that the sectors vehemently opposed to the construction of more flyovers are ordinary people who don’t have any political agenda. If given the option, they do not want to take time away from their business or profession and tangle with politicians, who, if provoked, could make their lives difficult.

Six hundred million pesos for flyovers that offer only Band-Aid solutions to traffic congestion is a sheer waste of scarce government resources.

On the other hand, the position of stakeholders is reasonable that it’s hard to imagine the President looking at another way. They simply want a rationalized approach to ease traffic congestion, one that results in a more liveable Cebu: a city traffic master plan, which could integrate flyovers if they’re viable in some areas, widening of roads and opening of streets to other types of mass transportation that do not pollute the environment like bicycles, skateboards, etc. Such a plan assures the preservation of heritage and cultural sites that enhance the lives of people.

Should P-Noy resolve this issue in the level of politics, he will surely lose the support of local civil society and that is no small matter since that would upset the natural constituency that propelled him to run and win the presidency.

In sum, this is a test of his political will.