Sunday, July 06, 2008 Carcar 'in no hurry' after first year as city By Garry Cabotaje Sun.Star Staff Reporter
RESIDENTS may have yet to feel any huge developments in Carcar since its conversion into a component city a year ago. But Vice Mayor Nicepuro Apura assured them that Carcar City is taking things at its own pace, not looking to make giant leaps, as it sets priorities.
Although its charter as a city was ratified on July 7 last year, the City’s new Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of P200.8 million only took effect last January.
“So the impact of the conversion has not been felt yet because it’s barely six months since we got our new IRA share,” Apura said.
Prior to its conversion, the IRA share of this former first-class heritage town was only P72 million.
Initially, Apura said the City embarked on priority projects, earmarking at least P1 million each for its 15 barangays. Part of the funding was taken from the city’s new IRA share, he said.
Apura cited Barangays Tuyom and Ocaña whose P1 million share was used to construct a covered court, while Barangay Perrelos spent it to improve its barangay hall.
Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district) said there’s no compelling reason for Carcar to fail in its development plans, considering its much larger IRA share.
Gullas called on local officials to set priorities in line with the City’s investment development programs.
He brought up the need to push through with new circumferential roads, as well as improve the City’s development plans.
The new access roads, he said, will entice more investors to put up businesses in Carcar.
Gullas said the City must also pursue its plan to build a new public market far from the congested rotunda in the city proper.
When Carcar celebrates its first anniversary as a city, local officials will honor Gullas as “the father of Carcar City.”
Change
The congressman drafted Republic Act 9436, which converted the town into a city. He was also responsible for Talisay’s conversion into a city in 2001.
Aside from Carcar, Naga was converted into one of Cebu’s newest component cities last year.
To decongest downtown traffic, Apura said the City is improving a diversion road for south-bound vehicles in Barangay Perrelos.
The City, he added, will also open an alternate road for Cebu City-bound vehicles in the coastal area. This alternate road will pass a rice field.
Apura said the project may take time because of a ban converting farmlands into housing or infrastructure-related projects.
“Still, we will lobby for an exemption for this project,” he said.
