Drop flyovers for drainage project

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Local Development Council in Cebu City yesterday rejected the proposed construction of two flyover projects along Juan Luna Ave. in Barangay Mabolo and requested that the P430-million budget be used instead for drainage projects that will solve the problem of flooding in the city.

It was Mayor Michael Rama, chairman of the Cebu City Local Development Council, who brought up the matter during their meeting at the social hall of the Cebu City Hall yesterday morning.

The Local Development Council is composed of the barangay captains of the city’s 80 barangays and 56 representatives of the more than 100 non-government organizations that are accredited by the Cebu City government.

None of those who attended the LDC meeting yesterday opposed the move to scrap the planned construction of the two flyover projects proposed by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The LDC adopted the move of some barangay captains that instead of spending the P430 million to build the flyovers, the funds should be used to improve the drainage systems in order to minimize, if not to totally solve, flooding in the city whenever there is heavy downpour.

The proposal of the DPWH to minimize the traffic congestion along Mabolo area is to build a P230-million flyover at corner MJ Cuenco and Juan Luna avenues. The cost will include the widening of the road within the vicinity of the structure.

Another flyover costing P200 million has also been recommended to be constructed along the intersections of Juan Luna and Cardinal Rosales avenues.

But Rama said the city does not need more flyovers, but rather wider roads. He has been vocal against the construction of more flyovers in the city believing that road widening is the solution to the city’s traffic problem.

He has even asked President Benigno Aquino III to stop the construction of the two proposed flyovers.

DPWH Cebu City District Engineer Nicomedes Leonor said there is no need to delete the proposed flyovers from the list of projects because they can always add other projects in their proposal to the DPWH-Central Office.

Leonor said they can add more drainage projects for Cebu City without removing the proposed construction of flyovers. 

But Rama questioned why DPWH only recommended P15 million for the drainage projects in the city.

Former Cebu City north district congressman Raul del Mar said they will object to the move to delete the proposed flyover projects from the list.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said “Sagdi lang og wala mo-endorse ang Local Development Council kay duna may laing paagi. Wala man gayud na sa balaud nga ang LDC maoy mo-endorse sa projects.”

The LDC, however, did not oppose the DPWH recommendation to spend P60 million for the improvement Salinas Drive corner Governor Mariano Cuenco Ave. and another P200 million road concreting project of the Banilad-Talamban Road.(FREEMAN)