Thursday, June 19, 2008
Ban-Tal traffic manageable despite classes: committee
TRAFFIC in the Banilad-Talamban area two weeks after classes started is still “manageable,” the Cebu City Council monitoring committee reported yesterday.
That as City Councilor Hilario Davide III, committee chairman, reported that he spoke with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 legal counsel Agustinito Hermoso last Monday and was told that contrary to what was earlier announced, the P80 million budget for the flyover project will be available only by next week.
Construction
What is ready, Davide was told, is the P40 million that served as second tranche payment after contractor WTG Construction and Development Corp. received P34 million when it started the construction last Feb. 1.
Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north) with Hermoso, WTG project engineer Christopher Semilla, and DPWH Cebu City District Engineer Nicomedes Leonor, Saturday last week announced that the P120 million is ready after President Arroyo instructed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to prioritize the funds for the project.
It was then announced that WTG could already start entering the nine critical lots for the widening of Gov. Manuel Cuenco Ave. for the flyover, which is constructed at the junction with A.S. Fortuna St.
Confirmation
“I called Atty. Hermoso for confirmation of reports that P120 million is already available. I was told that P40 million was available last week but the P80 million will be ready by next week,” the councilor said.
“(And) Semilla still has to receive the entry permits. The road widening will probably be next week (yet). But traffic is manageable despite the opening of classes,” Davide said.
The City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) has added enforcers in the Banilad-Talamban area and deployed a few even inside Mandaue City’s territory.
Citom Executive Officer Arnel Tancinco said they have to include Mandaue because traffic has been diverted there.
Davide said Hermoso assured him that property owners, especially those of the critical lots, will sign their respective contracts within the week.
City Councilor Leah Japson, former Banilad barangay captain, said some lot owners are still outside the country, but are expected to be home this week to sign the contracts. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 19, 2008 issue)
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