Del Mar: Master plan will show in the end that flyovers are still needed

After seeing her priority projects stopped in its tracks, Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar said she “strongly objects” to the suspension of two proposed flyovers in Cebu City.

But she said she is confident that in the end, a transportation master plan, which flyover critics insist should come first, will prove her right.

“Anyway, they will find out just the same after the road widening has been completed that the flyover is still necessary,” she said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson in Manila announced that he has put on hold new flyovers in Gorordo Avenue and M.J. Cuenco whose construction was set to begin in November.

The Department of Public Works and Highways will instead “proceed with the widening of those intersections.”

Singson said he would wait for the completion of a master plan before deciding whether to proceed with more flyovers.

“The issue will come back again and again as civil society and NGOs oppose it,” he said.

A week earlier, he had an hour-long meeting in his office with core members of the Movement for a Liveable Cebu led by Joel Lee, which has been lobbying against the new flyovers since August when the projects, worth P600 million, were announced by the DPWH.

An order to “hold in abeyance” the two flyovers was earlier issued on Oct. 7 by DPWH Undersecretary Momo.

Flyover critics, who include Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, said the concrete overpasses were expensive “Band-Aid” solutions to traffic congestion compared to cost-effective options like road widening and flared intersections.

They also said their proposed location would jeopardize a heritage zone in the city, including the 70-year-old Asilo dela Milagrosa.

Del Mar, on the other hand, said flyovers are effective in easing traffic congestion in busy intersections like the three flyovers in the Banilad corridor which her father Raul sponsored during his term as north district congressman,
“While I strongly object to the suspension of the flyover projects, I welcome the statement of DPWH Secretary Singson ‘to proceed with widening the intersections on streets where the flyovers were supposed to be built.’ This in effect actually implements phase 1 of the flyover projects, which is the widening of both sides of the roads along the flyover structures so that vehicles can still pass when work on the structures start,” she said.

“There is no need to suspend the flyover projects until the master plan is completed as we are confident the master plan will validate the necessity of the flyovers,” Del Mar also said.

“I have repeatedly informed Secretary Singson that more people and groups support the two flyovers,”she said. She cited a collection of 34,674 signatures in favor of the projects gathered from Cebu city north district residents.

Del Mar said she was “appalled” with the suspension order of the flyover since it has already been bidded out by the DPWH and has clearances from the DENR and is supported by eight resolutions from the Regional Development Council (RDC).

Del Mar cited resolutions and manifestos from various barangays, the Cebu City Council and executive committee of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in support of the projects.

“There will always be opposition to the proposed flyovers, as there has been (support) to pass them,” she said.

Del Mar said that most of the individuals who complain about the the flyovers have businesses that would be “adversely affected” by the construction.

“There certainly will be more supporters from the church goers and religious groups joining the prayer rally and processions,” Del Mar said, citing the open opposition of nuns of the Asilo dela Milagrosa, whose property will be affected by a 3.5 meter setback from its perimeter fence.

DPWH-7 spokesperson Marie Nellama confirmed that Singson’s decision was also due to his meeting with private stakeholders from Cebu City who oppose the project.

“He will issue a formal letter to carry out the order and it will be publicly announced. There’s nothing we can do about it,” Nellama said.

She said the DPWH has designated Cebu City to make the master plan “since (Mayor Mike) Rama also vocally expressed his opposition on the flyovers,” she said.

Nellama said the agency will start the preparation of road widening in the area next year.

She said the agency is still finalizing road road right of way and the purchase of property that will be affected.

Del Mar expressed disappointment at the turn over events.

“I guess they will most likely be doubling the road widening to try to prove that the flyover will no longer be necessary. I suspect, although I still hope not, that the Cebu DPWH planners will be breaking their commitment to me which was publicly confirmed by them ‘not to touch any part of the Asilo property,’” she said.

Last October 26, Singson met with Cebu delegation of anti-flyover advocates led by businessman Joel Lee, convenor of the Movement for a Liveable Cebu along with businessman Bunny Pages, architect Joseph Espina, dean of the College of Architecture and Fine Arts in the University of San Carlos, engineer Fortunato Sanchez Jr. of the Banilad-Talamban Traffic Task Force; architect Ann Espina, dean of the UP College of Architecture; architect Joy Martinez and nuns from Perpetual Succour Hospital and Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, whose facilities are affected by the proposed Gorordo flyover.

After their meeting, Singson said that he would vicit Cebu in November to directly hear the concers of the public about the flyovers.