Almost half are privately owned: 147 lots block third bridge

CEBU, Philippines - Based on an initial parcellary survey, at least 147 lots in Cebu City will be affected by the construction of the 8.25-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Bridge that will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island, according to the Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp.

Out of 147 lots, 75 are privately owned, 55 are public lands, while 17 are still unidentified whether they are public or private.

The said lots will be affected by the construction of the bridge's two ramps along Guadalupe River amounting between P1.5 to P2 billion.

For its development, the implementation is now on the hands of the chief executive, says chairman of the infrastructure and urban planning committee Councilor Jerry Guardo, conside-ring that there are families expected to be affected by the said project.

"Naa na sa executive ang decision for the execution of the said project," he told The FREEMAN over the phone.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said that he does not want any city resident to be displaced by the project. He said he is concerned by the possible demolition of houses in Barangay Pasil located in the banks of the Guadalupe River.

"All I'm concerned about is why are there demolitions? Because I'm not going to accept any demolitions in Pasil," he earlier said.

The mayor was not available for comment yesterday about the number of affected lots.

Aside from Pasil, other barangays that might be affected by the said project are Suba, Ermita, Pahina-Central, Pahina-San Nicolas, Sambag 1, Sambag 2, and Calamba.

During the executive session last August 24, Pasil Barangay Captain Julius Guioguio expressed the sentiments of the residents after they were informed that there were families to be displaced. He, however, said the barangay has no objection to any development in the area.

"Dili man mi supak sa improvement sa Guadalupe River pero basi sa public hearing naa may ma-displaced na mga residente," he said.

The barangay also issued a resolution defying the proposed construction of the bridge. In the resolution, the barangay council acknowledged the benefits that the residents of the city would get because of the project, but also expressed concerns for the residents of the Barangay who will be displaced because of the project.

"To overview, the proposed project displaced mostly of our residents along the Guadalupe River, hence a proposed 7.5 meter-road right of way, along the river is to be constructed. Likewise, we believe that the project creates a hazard to our community," the resolution further read.

Affected areas in the barangay are Sitios Lawis, Lawis Riverside, Concepcion Riverside, and Tikaban Riverside.

MPDTC legal counsel Aristotle Batuhan said that the project will have two access points in the Cebu City side — one on the South Road Properties and the other on the banks of Guadalupe River.

The original proposal does not include the Guadalupe River. It was former mayor Michael Rama's administration that insisted the inclusion of the Guadalupe River.

MPTDC says the design for the bridge is already final and major changes can no longer be accommodated, but he also said they can make minor adjustments to the design of the project to accommodate the concerns of the LGUs.

Guardo said MPTDC is expected to finish the ancillary survey and can submit the total number of the affected families by the end of September.

With these results, he promised to make a recommendation along the lines of providing a relocation site for those affected families. However, he also said it is possible that the private lots may be acquired by MPDTC.

Guardo said that he will recommend in a resolution to pursue the project with some amendments, specifically on the aspect of the Guadalupe River access.

"Next session a resolution will be passed to effect the revision based on the presentation and outputs of the executive session," he said.

Meanwhile, Batuhan said that they are willing to forego its construction depending on the decision of the Cebu City government.

"As restated the call of its implementation is in the court of Cebu City," he told reporters.

He then added that it is okay if the city government will not let them implement the project yet because they can make some adjustments like the target of its completion.

The expected date of construction will be in the middle of 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2020.

This year they are processing the national approval of National Toll Regulatory Board, Philippine Reclamation Authority and Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The said project already has the pertinent approval from the Cebu Port Authority, the Philippine Coast Guard Authority for the main structure vertical clearance of the project; and the Department of Public Works and Highways.  (FREEMAN)