On first day of construction: Del Mar, Rama clash on flyover

While the first day of the scheduled construction of the controversial Banilad flyover was seen as uneventful, a lively discussion or an argument between two officials took the spotlight away from the expected traffic mayhem.

In the first place, traffic flow in the Banilad-Talamban area was relatively smooth even during peak hours as workers of WTG Construction and the Department of Public Works and Highways were still doing the initial groundwork for the project.

But, Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar, the main proponent of the project and Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who is asking for its postponement got into an animated discussion during the ABS-CBN Media Forum at SM City Cebu yesterday.

While not one of them would admit that they argued, their “lively discussion” appeared as such to those who witnessed it.

Rama said that he was merely explaining the stand of the city council.He clarified that the city councilors are not opposed to the project and only wants that the inconvenience brought about by the construction would just be minimized.

The City Council earlier asked the DPWH to postpone the project until such time that all the preparations like the alternate routes and other measures that will make it less inconvenient to public are in place.

“Wa ko makiglalis oy, I just presented the stand of the council on the issue,” the vice mayor said.

Rama clarified that the creation of the special ask force that will oversee the implementation of the project, especially in terms of its effect on the public, is not going against the project.

“I told the council to create a special task force even if we were not told to do so. We do it being part of this administration to help lessen the inconvenience on public.

“This is not against the congressman (Del Mar). The pronouncement giving disenchantment against DPWH for not proactively preparing anything to reduce traffic especially its inconvenience to the public,” he stressed.

Rama said that he made such pronouncements based on previous experience with DPWH projects that caused accidents due to lack of proper preparation and safety measures to protect the public.

For his part, Del Mar, the proponent of the P86.9 million flyover project, told The Freeman that what happened between him and Rama was mere discussion.

“There’s nothing wrong with discussion. Even in Congress we have discussions.”

But no matter how many times there are discussions and oppositions, he said it will never stop the flyover’s construction because everything is all set.

“These matters are already discussed. Now that the work has started, let’s stop talks on opposing and postponing. Let’s put these all behind and work together in lessening the inconvenience caused by the construction of the flyover,” del Mar said.

The congressman also appealed to the public, especially to motorists to bear with the inconvenience, which he said would last only for six months as WTG Construction promised to deliver the project four months ahead of schedule.

 For his part, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he does not want to order the City Council what to do but said nobody can stop the project.

He said that he is letting the council make its own decision and come up with solutions so if they make mistake, they will learn.

Without naming names, but obviously referring to Rama, Osmeña said that “it’s part of growing up so they guy, who will be mayor one day, will learn.”

CITOM executive officer Arnel Tancinco and Banilad barangay captain Malou Tabar both observed that the traffic volume decreased at 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The contractor only went to the construction area at 10 a.m. and closed only one lane in each direction of the road.

Tancinco said that the reason may be why there was less traffic because motorists were already expecting heavy traffic along Gov. Mariano Cuenco Avenue so they avoided the area.

Ombudsman Probe

Meanwhile, the DPWH has welcomed the fact finding investigation ordered by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol into the alleged irregularity in the bidding process of the controversial Banilad-Talamban flyover.

DPWH-7 regional director Josefino Rigor promised to cooperate in the investigation by making all the bidding documents of the project available to the anti-graft investigators.

Rigor said they have nothing to hide saying that the bidding was transparent and even witnessed by the members of the media. Rigor however was not yet the regional director when the bidding of the project was conducted last year. — (/NLQ)