City Hall looking into high-rise boom

The City Building Official has issued building permits for 31 high-rise buildings in Cebu City since last year.

This construction boom which will change the city’s skyline has focused concern on implications on traffic congestion, public safety, and environment protection.

The City Council will conduct a public hearing on May 9 to look into the trend and whether more regulation is needed.

“While acknowledging high demand for housing units in the city because of solid economic growth, we want this development to be balanced with public safety, traffic impact and environmental protection,” said Councilor Noel Wenceslao.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said he wants to speed up the inquiry so that new policies can be introduced in the issuance of development permits.

“The development of high-rise buildings in the city cannot be stopped, but traffic should also be considered,” said Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, chairman of the Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom).

“We come in not to prevent or block development but just to make the traffic congestion less.”

Citom has recommended a “traffic lane” to the developers of the 55-story Horizons 101 in Gen. Maxilom Avenue.

“We will recommend to them to have two lanes inside their property in order to accommodate incoming and outgoing vehicles, public and private and to have sufficient width for the entering and exiting of the commuters,” Jakosalem told CEBU DAILY NEWS.

He cited Shopwise Mall in N. Bacalso Avenue, Basak – San Nicolas which provided a 6-meter traffic lane or “setback” which incoming and outgoing vehicles use without stopping by the already congested public roads.

Horizons 101 project manager Oscar C. Umali told CDN the condominium project has a 9-meter setback so traffic near the proposed condominium would not be congested.

Developers of Horizon 101 and Citom have set a meeting on May 7 to discuss the project’s traffic plan.

At 55 floors, Horizon 101 is touted to become the city’s tallest building.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Alipio Bacalso said that buildings should provide parking space at a ratio of one parking space for every 50 square meter (sq. m.) ground floor area based on a city ordinance.

For succeeding floors, one parking area is required for every 100 sq. m floor area.

Citom executive director Rafael Yap, said “high-rise buildings would definitely affect the city’s traffic.”

“We just have to manage traffic and needs to have long-term planning and regular consultations with other stakeholders,” he added.

High-rise buildings are those with more than four floors.

Aside from building developers, the City Council invited OBO chief Josefa Ylanan, City Engineer Kenneth Enriquez and City Planning Officer Bacalso for the May 9 hearing. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Correspondent Tweeny Malinao