THE implementation of infrastructure projects that will improve land, air and sea transportation in Cebu are among the areas Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar (north district) wants President Rodrigo Duterte to focus on in his third year in office.
Del Mar yesterday said he has introduced an amendment to the Traffic Crisis Act before the Lower House to include, in addition to Metro Manila, the metro areas of Cebu City and Davao City.
“We expect that the same resources being poured to solve the traffic crisis in Metro Manila be soon implemented in Metro Cebu and Metro Davao as well,” he said.
Specific projects del Mar wants to be implemented soon are a subway or Light Railway Transit for Cebu City and Metro Cebu in addition to the full implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Del Mar also hopes the Duterte administration will work on the second runway of the Mactan Cebu International Airport and the International Container Port.
The President said he will leave it to the Department of Transportation under Secretary Arthur Tugade to decide on the implementation of MCIA’s second runway project, for which the private consortium managing the airport terminals has submitted a proposal.
Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu Province, fourth district) said he hoped that the national government will allocate funds to realize projects in northern Cebu.
Salimbangon said he has a pending bill declaring part of the fourth district as a special economic zone. He also recommended the construction of an airport in Medellin or Daanbantayan.
“There are 22 islets in my district, including Malapascua and Kinatarcan, which have good potentials for tourism. But we have to put up infrastructure like airports and seaports before we encourage the private sector to construct more hotels and resorts,” Salimbangon said.
In Consolacion, the construction of a new seaport in the town is expected to not only lessen congestion in the existing Cebu International Port, but also reduce vessel waiting times.
While the current container port in Cebu City has a yard capacity of 7,373 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the proposed port is expected to have a container capacity of 14,400 TEUs. It is expected to be implemented in 2020, and will be on a 25-hectare reclaimed island.
In a separate interview, Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa (Cebu City, south) said he wants the President to report about the country’s economy.
“I wish President Rodrigo Duterte will be unequivocal on the policy directions of his administration for our economy. With unfavorable economic statistics and forecasts against a backdrop of livelihood difficulties recently experienced by our people, we want to listen to a Sona that will also spell out his marching orders to his economic managers and a clear message for legislative action by Congress,” he said.