Mandaue calls for law on Mega Cebu

ANY moves to pursue a “Mega Cebu” plan should be supported by a national law to give it more permanence, a Mandaue City official said yesterday.

“It should not be prejudiced by politics because it would be a waste if it was neglected. National legislation from Congress is necessary to have a sense of permanence,” Mandaue City Administrator James Abadia told Cebu Daily News.

He said Mandaue City welcomes any coordination between local government units of Cebu in planning long term projects in the province.

“But if it’s only supported by resolutions there’s the possibility it won’t be followed up with a change in leadership,” Abadia said.

Abadia cited as an example the Japan loan-funded Metro Cebu Development Projects (MCDP), which he described as a good program that fell apart after former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña ended his term.

“There must be a sense of permanence so that no matter who will be the leader the program continues,” Abadia said.

Cebu business groups are pushng for a master plan to guide the growth of a “Mega Cebu” that coordinates common concerns such as infrastructure, traffic, and drainage across 13 cities and towns from Carcar in the south to Danao City in the north.

Samuel Chioson, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president and Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph said the “Mega Cebu” goal shows promise because it is backed by a coalition of “the willing.”

They both sit in the newly formed Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board.

Chioson said the CCCI has committed its support for the “Mega Cebu” direction.

Joseph said he will make a presentation about it to members of the American Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 11.

The MCDB chaired by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia seeks public-private sector collaboration for this goal.

Joseph said the Cebu business community may also need to contribute funding for the master plan.

He, together with businessmen and other stakeholders met with Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma last week to brief him on their efforts.

Businessman Bunny Pages, who attended the dialogue, said Archbishop Palma advised them to hold more consultations about the Mega Cebu master plan so more can participate. Reporters Jucell Marie P. Cuyos and Aileen Garcia-Yap with Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus