THREE Cebu Provincial Government officials yesterday said the Cebuanos, especially lawmakers and local government units (LGUs), must lobby for the realization of the Cebu Trans-axial Development Project (CTDP).
The CTDP will greatly solve the traffic problem and decongest Metro Cebu, said Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale; engineer Grecilda Sanchez, former board member and now barangay affairs consultant; and engineer Edgar Sibonga, capitol consultant for projects.
The CTDP, a 300-kilometer, four-lane highway, will traverse the axis of Cebu mainland from Santander in the south to Daanbatayan in the north. This was the brainchild of the late Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr., Grecilda’s father.
Of this length, Grecilda said 220 kms. are already existing roads that will be widened and improved while 80 kms. are entirely new road links.
Sibonga agreed that, if realized, the highway from Santander to Daanbantayan will complement all roads in the towns.
Each side can be used for water pipelines and wind power, and the land valuation will increase.
Speaking during the Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency), Sibonga said the Cebu Provincial Government has made the pre-feasibility study for CTDP.
He said that this pre-feasibility study will be used for making a full-blown study required by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), which facilitates foreign investments.
Magpale, Sanchez and Sibonga said that if a private investor will finance the project, it will manage the CTDP for 25 years, reckoned after the four-year development or construction period.
A water system, wind power and deployment of industries, are among the benefits of the project.
Sibonga said the CTDP is estimated to cost P46.31 billion.
Of this amount, P1.58 billion will be for road-right-of-way acquisition, which will be shouldered by the Cebu Provincial Government. The remaining P44.73 billion for site development, facilities construction and pre-operating expenses can be funded through foreign borrowings, said Sibonga. (EOB)