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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Espinoza: Controversial Juan Luna flyover
By Elias L. Espinoza
Rep. Raul del Mar’s directive to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to stop the construction of a flyover at the intersection of Juan Luna Ave., F. Cabahug St. and Cardinal Rosales Ave. is only temporary.
It did not mean that DPWH has yielded to the protest of the residents along Juan Luna Ave. With funds already allocated, the flyover should be constructed or the money would revert to the national coffers.
The request of the residents of Sto. Niño, Silver Hills, and other subdivisions to transfer the flyover project to the Banilad intersection of A. S. Fortuna St. and Governor Cuenco Ave. is valid. Traffic in that intersection is one of the heaviest in Cebu City. Even on supposedly off-peak hours, the area is still a bottleneck to motorists.
But the hands of del Mar, who sourced the fund for the flyover, are tied. With the limitation of the law, he cannot realign the funding for the flyover in Juan Luna to Banilad. Otherwise, he and DPWH officials would be held liable for technical malversation.
Since money has been appropriated for the Juan Luan flyover, then it should be constructed there. What the DPWH should do is adjust the design and length of the flyover.
With all due respect, I could not agree with the claim of the protesters that the flyover would violate their privacy. Such reasoning is senseless if not absurd.
Perhaps, they think that motorists are “Peeping Toms.” But isn’t it silly for them to stop at the top of the flyover to look at someone else’s place?
Besides, the flyover will be constructed in the middle of Juan Luna Ave. and will not intrude into anyone’s property. And since no private property will be affected by the flyover’s construction, opposition to the project is nada.
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Rep. Raul del Mar has expressed concern over the controversy hounding the past and present general managers of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) and plans to amend some provisions of Republic Act 6958, or the MCIAA charter.
Del Mar said Section 12 of RA 6958 is a standard provision. But he did not expect that the Civil Service Commission would still require career executive service (CES) eligibility for managerial positions in a government-controlled corporation like MCIAA.
Granting that del Mar would push for an amendment of Section 12 of RA 6958 to resolve the controversy, it would be too late in the day for the present airport manager, Adelberto Yap.
“An amendment to any provision of the law would take time and it is like crafting a new law,” del Mar said.
Thus, by the time an exception is inserted to Section 12 of RA 6958 to allow non-CES eligible people to sit as airport manager provided he/she has the qualifications and confidence of the appointing authority, Yap would already be out.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 25, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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