Structures affected by BRT known

CEBU, Philippines - Close to a hundred property and establishment owners have been initially listed as part of those eligible to receive resettlement and compensation from the national government as they are expected to be affected by the proposed Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project.

The names were attached to the proposed ordinance finalizing the list of persons and properties affected by the lot acquisition of the BRT project.

The measure is authored by City Councilor Joel Garganera.

The Department of Transportation has allocated P9 billion for the lot acquisition and resettlement.

The implementation of the BRT project entails lot acquisition at the location of the stations, terminals, and depot.

Garganera’s proposed measure also prohibits the development or any construction within the right of way (ROW) of the project, 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).

Section 16 of the IRR of RA 10752 requires that no local government unit shall allow within the ROW any development or construction or issue any building, construction, development or business permit which is contrary to the approved plans and purposes of the project within two years from the date of notice of taking.

If Garganera’s proposal is approved, several offices of City Hall will be asked to refrain from issuing building, construction, development or business permit to affected areas.

The affected areas are portions of Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Osmeña Boulevard, Escario Street, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Governor Mariano Cuenco Avenue, Barangay Bulacao, Barangay Talamban, and South Road Properties.

"The Cebu City Government is the implementing agency of the land acquisition and resettlement component of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project in behalf of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as per Memorandum of Agreement signed last December 28,2016," the proposed measure reads.

Garganera referred the proposed measure to the council's committee on laws, ordinances and styling for its comments and recommendations.

BRT Project Manager Rafael Yap, for his part, said he asked the office of Garganera, who chairs the council's committee on transportation, to draft the ordinance as it is needed for the implementation of the P10-billion project that is seen to address the traffic congestion of the city.

At least 25 locations are eyed for the BRT stations.

Along Natalio Bacalso, there are nine affected areas such as within the vicinities of Holy Rosary School of Pardo, Greyhound Subdivision, University of San Jose Recoletos-Basak Campus, F.Llamas intersection, Mambaling Elementary School, Cebu Institute of Technology, Salazar Institute of Technology, V. Rama Intersection, and near the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

Four areas are affected along the Osmeña Boulevard such as the areas near Cebu Normal University, Uytengsu intersection, Rajah Park Hotel, and Cebu Doctors University Hospital.

There will be two stations along Escario Street near the Church and the Gorordo intersection that will be affected.

On Archbishop Reyes Avenue, stations will be located within the vicinity of Cabantan intersection, Salinas Drive intersection, and near the I.T. Park.

There will be seven stations along Governor Mariano Cuenco Avenue, particularly near the Paradise village, Gaisano Country Mall, A.S Fortuna Street, University of San Carlos Talamban Campus, M.L. Quezon Avenue intersection, Gaisano Grand Mall, and Talamban Gym.

There are three terminal locations for the project: 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.

One depot area in South Road Properties will also be established.

Yap said the first phase of the 16-kilometer project will start with the construction of bus ways, bus stations and other facilities on Osmeña Boulevard, specifically the area from Fuente Osmeña to the Provincial Capitol.

Under the proposed ordinance, the Office of the Mayor is tasked to undertake to finalize the list of project affected persons within three months from the approval of the measure.

"Project affected persons who were not surveyed by the Cebu BRT Project Implementation Unit during the period of May 2016 to December 2016 may request to the Office of the Mayor for inclusion in the list of project affected persons, provided that they will be able to show reasonable grounds why they were not able to participate," the proposed ordinance reads. —/JMD (FREEMAN)