Shelter, mass transport top Pelaez agenda

CEBU, Philippines - Building resettlement sites for homeless residents and mass transport system are among the key programs that Lapu-Lapu City ma-yoralty candidate Efrain "Jun" Pelaez Jr. wants to pursue if he gets elected in the coming elections.

Pelaez, a businessman, plans to tap the private sector through foundations in building homes as well as in providing relocation sites for the displaced residents of the city.

"My program has always been to relocate them, give them dignity, and give them place to live in. If I was elected in 2010, I could have built 9,000 to 10,000 new homes for the urban poor already. I could do 3,000 homes every year and in three years' time, I would have completed already that program," Pelaez said during The Freeman and Banat News' Know Your Candidate: Cebu Vote 2016 Roundtable.

Aside from building homes, Pelaez said the city needs major roads connecting the different sitios in the barangays. He said this will improve the traffic situation. He, however, said that proper coordination with the neighboring towns and cities is a must.

"We have to work with other cities, work with organizations like Mega Cebu," Pelaez said.

 He also vowed transparency in all government transactions under his administration.

More hospitals

According to Pelaez, the city needs two more hospitals, which he intends to build at P100 million each.

"I will not wait for the Department of Health to give us P20 million. I will set aside P100 million each," he said, referring to the hospital expansion project of the current administration.

He said he also have friends in the construction business that can allegedly help him solve the flooding problem of the city.

Drugs and crimes

Pelaez said "political will" is all what it takes to solve the drug problem and criminalities in the city.

He said he will put up a composite team of military, ex-military, and police officers who have sterling records to stop corruption and drug problem.

 "If we reduce the drug use, there will be also a drastic reduction in crime," Pelaez said.

In the areas of tourism and sports development, Pelaez said he wants to continue the programs of the present administration except the branding of Lapu-Lapu City as "Historic Resort City."

He described the initiative as "nonsense and silly."

"You see all the technicolor?  Look at the schools, it's painted in the front with all the de colores. You look at the sides and at the back, no de colores. What's the point?" Pelaez said.

"We will definitely continue if there's a good program…. If there's none, we'll make it better," he said.

He reiterated his promise in the 2010 elections to build cemented playgrounds for children and basketball courts in every sitios. (FREEMAN)