Committee to oversee lot acquisition for BRT project

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will create a committee that will look into the process of acquiring road right of way for lots involved in the P10.6 billion Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project’s implementation.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said the city already received P900 million from the national government, the first tranche of money to be used in obtaining properties affected by the project.

“They have given us some money. They will have to give us more money. So we will create a committee to look into how we’ll spend the money,” he told reporters.

The Department of Transportation initially allocated P1.2 billion for the purpose, but it has reportedly increased it to P5 billion.

Although he admitted that the BRT project still has a long way to go before its full implementation, Osmeña said the project, nonetheless, is moving.

The City Council has yet to pass an ordinance finalizing the list of persons and properties affected in the lot acquisition for the BRT project. The measure is authored by Councilor Joel Garganera.

Under the proposed measure, close to 100 property and establishment owners have been initially listed as eligible to receive resettlement and compensation from the national government for the project.

The City Council has scheduled for July 18 a public hearing on the proposal. However, it was clarified that property and establishment owners who cannot attend the hearing will still be entitled for resettlement and compensation, contrary to earlier reports.

Once the measure is green-lighted, development or any construction within the project’s right of way will be prohibited, as included in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10752 (An Act Facilitating the Acquisition of Right of Way Site or Location for National Government Infrastructure Projects).

Agreement

City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete and BRT Project Manager Rafael Christopher Yap will be on top of the creation of the committee.

Yap said the move is part of the city’s duties under a memorandum of agreement signed by Osmeña and DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade on December 28, 2016.

Yap said the City Legal Office will draft the executive order creating the committee in accordance with the MOA.

“The CCG (Cebu City government) shall create a committee on lot acquisition under the auspices of the Office of the City Mayor to include representatives from DOTr,” the MOA read.

The city government will also implement and complete the acquisition of lots at the earliest possible time, the MOA added.

It further said that the city will “cause and undertake the transfer of the title of the properties acquired in the name of the DOTr.”

The implementation of the 23-kilometer-long corridor of the BRT project entails lot acquisition at the location of the stations, terminals, and depot, considering limitations of road width in certain areas.

At least 25 locations are being eyed for the BRT stations.

The lots to be acquired are located on Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Osmeña Boulevard, Escario Street, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Governor Mariano Cuenco Avenue, as well as in Barangay Bulacao, Barangay Talamban, and the South Road Properties.

The three terminals for the project will be located near the Cebu South Coastal Road in Barangay Bulacao, along Governor Mariano Cuenco Avenue in Talamban area, and near Archbishop Reyes Avenue at the Cebu Business Park.

Under the MOA, the DOTr shall allocate and obligate funds to cover the cost of acquiring lots for the right of way. (FREEMAN)