Thursday, July 19, 2007 Espinoza: Skyway proposal for Banilad By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
IT is flattering to know that Banilad businessmen considered the suggestion I wrote months ago for the Department of Public Works and Highways and Rep. Raul del Mar to construct a skyway or viaduct instead of a flyover at the intersection of Gov. Cuenco Ave. and A.S. Fortuna St.
Del Mar said funds he secured for a flyover is not enough for a skyway. He felt bad that the objections raised by Banilad businessmen to his flyover project already caused much delay. The work was supposed to start in summer yet.
On peak hours, traffic is concentrated in the Banilad area, particularly from the entrance/exit of Sto. Niño Village to the intersection of A. S. Fortuna where vehicles from the posh Maria Luisa Estate Park also converge, and at Mahiga bridge.
Last Monday, when I took over from my wife the task of driving our Dominic to CIC in Mandue City, I was surprised by the heavy traffic in the Talamban area going to the city, something I didn’t experience last year.
Having a skyway from USC-TC campus up to the skywalk in Country Mall (if not farther) is a better solution to the worsening traffic in Banilad, especially now that Sacred Heart School has opened its campus in Canduman, Mandaue City.
A skyway will solve the traffic woes in this intersection better than road widening or building a flyover. It would benefit not only motorists from Talamban and Mandaue going to the Cebu City’s center but also businessmen in Banilad.
The businessmen’s offer to sell their lots at give-away prices is good but widening the already four-lane road won’t achieve the purpose because undisciplined drivers will only use its sides as parking area.
The City Government needs to work with Banilad businessmen for a skyway project. The City can pour additional funds to the budget for del Mar’s flyover. Banilad businessmen can seek financial help from senators who garnered big votes in Cebu in the last elections. Or they can contribute money.
Del Mar should also allow more suggestions on the traffic problem in this area to flow. He should not feel bad about or be affronted by better ideas. After all, we have one goal: public welfare. *** I initially didn’t want to write on this after a judge told me the marriage scam issue that is affecting the integrity of the judiciary will not end until people stop talking about it in the press.
But I feel obliged to give the public a hint on the “damning evidence” that Municipal Trial Court Judge Donato Navarro talked about. I don’t think the evidence just fell into the judge’s lap.
A friend told me that Navarro is perhaps referring to the footage of a wedding ceremony officiated by a Cebu City judge in a beach resort in Mactan.
We know that photographers with video camera are always part of weddings. Unmindful of the consequence, the judge must have smiled in front of cameras while officiating the marriage. Either he was careless or he just disregarded rigid rules.
While the documents state that the wedding was celebrated in Cebu City, the footage says otherwise. As lawyers say, “res ipsa loquitor” (the thing speaks for itself).
