Rama: No road widening, flyovers sans master plan

The implementation of any new projects in Cebu City, be it flyover or road widening, should be set aside until a master plan is completed, said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

“Diri ta maminaw sa urban planners (We should listen to urban planners),” he said, and not just any politician like the Del Mars or engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who he said lack the expertise.

Rama, however, admits funding for a master plan still has to be raised.

The Cebu City Council did not approve a P75 million outlay for six master plans, which the mayor proposed for the 2012 annual budget.

Rama, who has led opposition to the construction of two new flyovers endorsed by Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar and her father Raul, said in an earlier interview that he wanted funds for master plans included in the next supplemental budget.

The mayor said yesterday he still believes a master planis needed to guide infrastructure or development projects in the city.

Rama said the flyovers proposed for Gorordo Avenue and M.J. Cuence Avenue by the del Mars would not solve traffic congestion in the area and that the DPWH endorsement for flyovers is no assurance these are really needed.

“DPWH is not an authority in urban planning. Engineers are different from urban planners,” he said.

Del Mar’s two flyover projects along General Maxilom- M.J. Cuenco and Archbishop Reyes – Gorordo avenues are worth P300 million each with P180 million for road widening project along MJ Cuenco Avenue in barangay Mabolo.

Cutie and her father met with affected lot owners last Saturday evening to assure that steps would be taken to address all their concerns and minimize the impact on their properties.

Raul del Mar said more consultations would follow. He asked engineer Nicomedes Leonor, head of the Cebu City Engineering district, to individually meet with them to listen to their concerns.

Mayor Rama said he could only imagine the anxiety of the affected land owners who stand to lose part of their roadside property.

“But in the end the congestion problem will not even be addressed by the planned road widening and flyover,” he said.

Raul del Mar said that the road widening project was separate from the flyover project. He said widening may even be done after the flyover is built.

Mayor Rama recalled that a Technical Working Group of the Regional Devlopment Council of Central Visayas already concluded last year that the two proposed flyover projects were unnecessary and that road widening was a better alternative to relieve traffic congestion.