Tom to DPWH: Fund P2 billion infrastructure projects

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña asks the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to include in its budget next year the P2 billion worth of infrastructure projects to decongest the city’s traffic.

In his February 21 letter to DPWH-7 Director Ador Canlas, the mayor requested for the implementation of infrastructure projects such as underpass from Mambaling Access Road to Cebu South Coastal Road; merging flyover of Salinas Drive, Gorordo Avenue, and Veterans Drive; flyover from S. Osmeña and V. Sotto Street and widening of S. Osmeña and South Coastal Road from six lanes to eight lanes.

“We hope that the department will consider these proposals as part of its ongoing program to address the traffic congestion along these arterial corridors,” Osmeña said.

The mayor posted the copy of the letter, perspective plans and profile of the projects on his official Facebook account yesterday.

In the letter, Osmeña said DPWH has already conducted the feasibility study for the underpass in Mambaling Access Road and Cebu South Coastal Road, merging flyover from Gorodo Avenue and Veterans Drive in Lahug, and flyover from Serging Osmeña Boulevard and V. Sotto Street.

Also, he said the department included in the final report of feasibility and business case studies for the Cebu South Coastal Road –Cebu Circumferential Road and Lateral Arterial Roads for the widening of S. Osmeña Blvd and Cebu South Coastal Road.

“We will no longer need to implement the no left turn policy from the Mambaling Access Road to the South Coastal Road to prevent collisions. Soon, there will be a proper merging underpass so you can safely make a turn without crossing oncoming traffic. The South Coastal Road will also be widened to 8 lanes over the next few years,” the mayor said on his post.

For the 800-meter underpass in Mambaling Access Road, it will have two lanes and will cost P932 million.

The merging flyover of Salinas Drive, Gorordo Avenue, and Veterans Drive will have one lane which is six-meter wide and will cost P491 million while the 671-meter flyover from Serging Osmeña Boulevard and V. Sotto Street will have four lanes and will cost P600 million.

Osmeña said he asked the funding from the national government so that the city will not shell out its funds for the infrastructure projects.

“I found a way for national to fund them, so their cost will not hamper your local government’s ability to deliver basic services,” he said.

Osmeña said he did not announce these projects as there will be “destroyers” of his projects.  (FREEMAN)