Monday, August 18, 2008 Nalzaro: Tomas’ ambitious projects By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
MAYOR Tomas Osmeña divulged his plan to build three flyovers and two underpasses as additional components of the Cebu South Coastal Road. He said he wants to get the approval and funding for these infrastructure projects and put everything in order before he steps down from City Hall in 2010.
He said City Hall will start drafting the proposals to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), one of the possible funding agencies for the ambitious projects. JBIC funded the multi-billion-peso South Road Properties (SRP) that remains a “white elephant.” Each flyover that will be constructed at the SRP and two at the North Reclamation Area will cost P200 million each.
The underpasses will be constructed at the SRP leading to Talisay and at the intersection of Mambaling.
With the additional infrastructure, hizzoner said the City Government can make Cebu City “become like the rest of the world where road networks and traffic management are well designed.”
Well, there is nothing wrong with planning for the future. It’s the duty of every local chief executive to plan what is best for his city. But as taxpayers we can always question the propriety and wisdom of our elected officials as far as their priorities are concerned. Is the construction of flyovers and underpasses a priority?
According to the mayor, the plan, if it pushes through, will improve traffic flow at the south coastal road as the public works and highways noted a rise in the volume of vehicles that passes the area. But we are not yet experiencing a traffic problem in the area. So why implement those projects there?
Okay, there is no question that what Tomas has in plan is preparing the city for the future. What is in question is the priority. Besides, the funding will be sourced from international financial institutions and will be paid by taxpayers.
The City Government is still paying its loan from JBIC on the SRP to the tune of P1 million plus a day, not including interest.
The City is still “hemorrhaging” because of the SRP loan and yet it will again borrow to finance Tomas’ ambitious projects? We even have a hard time paying that multi-billion loan considering that the SRP is supposed to be an income-generating project. But what about the proposed flyovers and underpasses? The City cannot make money out of these projects unless they impose toll. Good for Tomas because by that time he will no longer be the mayor and he will be freed from any obligation. But what about his successor? It will be a headache for whoever succeeds him at City Hall.
I am not totally against these projects but why can’t he wait for the City to settle its financial obligations before initiating projects through a loan package. One at a time, mayor. The problem with Tomas and his topnotch SRP sales agent Joel Marie Yu is that they keep bragging about their marketing strategy for the SRP. But until now no one has shown interest in buying lots there or investing there.
Their Cebu Investment and Promotional Center is a total waste of money. It gets financial support from the City and yet there is no substantial achievement, as far as disposing of SRP lots is concerned. Nagbula lang ang laway anang Joel Marie Yu. Tomas said he wants everything in place before his term expires in 2010. But why in a hurry, mayor? Because you don’t want your successor to “harvest” the fruits of these multi-billion transactions? Who will receive the kickbacks and the commissions? Just asking.
