THE Cebu City Government will submit today a resolution seeking support for six projects, which are intended to decongest traffic and which will cost at least P3 billion.
These include two underpasses on the South Coastal Road and pavement rehabilitation of Serging Osmeña Blvd., near Pier 4.
The six projects are components of the 2011-2016 Medium-Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Cebu City, said a Cebu City Development Council (CDC) resolution.
That resolution is what City Hall will submit today to the Regional Development Council (RDC).
In the resolution, the CDC endorsed the projects to the RDC-Central Visayas, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and the Neda-Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC).
CDC members invoked President Benigno Aquino III’s declaration that he will promote transport infrastructure to encourage private investments, boost construction and support tourism development.
He also pledged to support projects that will decongest traffic.
Cebu City Planning and Development Coordinator Paul Villarete identified the proposed projects as: a two-lane Channel II underpass at the Cebu South Coastal Road corridor; a two-lane viaduct underpass, also at the coastal road; a two-lane flyover at the Mambaling access road leading to the South Road Properties flyover; a four-lane underpass at the intersection of Juan Luna St. (formerly San Jose dela Montaña) and Serging Osmeña Blvd. (near Pier 6 and SM City); a four-lane underpass at the intersection of Gen. Maxilom Ave. and Serging Osmeña Blvd.(near Pier 4); and the pavement rehabilitation of Cebu South Coastal Road and the port corridor of Serging Osmeña Blvd.
Access
In its resolution, the CDC also recalled Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson’s visit to Cebu last July 7, when he declared that the agency’s thrusts for 2011-2016 are to create strategic support to improve accessibility of tourism destinations.
He also wants to enhance major urban thoroughfares to encourage business, investments and trade, especially in tourism centers like Cebu City.
The CDC also stated that, using the 2004 Comprehensive Impact Study for Metro Cebu Development conducted by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (formerly Japan International Cooperation Agency ), the public works department has started planning and preparing for “priority road investments” in Metro Cebu.
Villarete said if these projects are finally approved by all concerned government agencies, including the RDC, these will be implemented between 2011 and 2016.
MRT
Emmanuel S. Rabacal, chairperson of the Infrastracture Development Committee (IDC) of the RDC, said the city’s list will come up for discussion in the first committee meeting on Sept. 24.
Rabacal also said the committee may also discuss the Mono Rail Transit (MRT) project proposed by Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district) if he will submit it before then.
Rabacal said the MRT was supposed to be discussed during the RDC full council meeting last March, but he objected, because it did not go through the IDC, as required by the RDC’s procedures.
Paths
Villarete, however, said he doubts the MRT will be discussed by the IDC because it lacks an endorsement from the Cebu City Government.
In the meantime, the Cebu City Government has allocated over P48 million for some development projects in several barangays.
The City Council recently approved 20 programs of work and estimates (POWE) amounting to P48,055,689, for the concreting of roads as well as fabrication of footpaths in different barangays.
According to Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, the amount will cover the acquisition of general requirements like bonds and insurances, acquisition of equipment, the subgrading and scraping of existing pavements before concreting, and labor.
The council approved last Friday his resolution on the projects.
The allocation is also in line with Mayor Michael Rama’s promises for his first 100 days in office, including the retreading and paving of some streets and bridges.
The city council approved footpaths in the barangays of Taptap, Basak Pardo and Busay, as well as road concreting projects in Binaliw, Cambinocot, Bacayan, Guba, Taptap, Sirao, Mabini, Paril, Busay, Budlaan, Adlaon, Pit-os, Lusaran, Malubog, Pulangbato, and Agsungot.