FROM now on, Cebu City will no longer be involved in any of the discussions on the Mega Cebu program, its mayor said.
Mega Cebu is a program of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB), which envisions to make Cebu a more livable and sustainable place to live in by 2050.
The MCDCB is composed of 13 local government units (LGU), but Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced yesterday that Cebu City will no longer be included in it.
Sought for comment about this, MCDCB communications manager Carol Ballesteros said she will refer the matter to the MCDCB executive committee and the full MCDCB board.
The bill that seeks to create the Mega Cebu Development Authority gained a House committee’s approval last January, but it was too late by then for Congress to pass it into law.
All nine of Cebu’s representatives to the Lower House in the previous term had supported House Bill 6227.
In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña said he believes MCDCB doesn’t have any authority to convene these LGUs, so he won’t be participating in any of its activities.
“I don’t have anything to do with Mega Cebu. It is Mega Cebu now minus one,” he said.
Osmeña said he doesn’t want to label the move as Cebu City “pulling out” from MCDCB as that would be tantamount to acknowledging or recognizing its existence.
“Mega Cebu doesn’t exist. Legally, they don’t exist. What is their authority? Were they elected? Are they a legal person? Can they enter into a contract with the government? They don’t exist,” he said.
He also said he will no longer reveal details on his plans to construct flyovers and underpasses in several intersections in the city. He did say he hopes that the bidding for 10 flyovers and underpasses will be conducted next year.
These projects, Osmeña said, will help address traffic. The mayor has disclosed he will now prioritize addressing traffic congestion and will no longer involve himself in the fight against illegal drugs following the relief of police officials in Cebu.