CEBU CITY -- Amid the opposition to flyover projects, Representative Tomas Osmeña (South District, Cebu City) announced his plan to construct flyovers in the South Road Properties (SRP) and in other areas in his district.Friday, September 23, 2011
The opposition has developed into a song, which local artist Budoy has composed.
In a press conference Thursday, Osmeña said he has already identified fund sources for the construction of a flyover near the Mambaling access road next year, so motorists from N. Bacalso Ave. can easily turn left to the SRP to go to the downtown area.
He said they want to improve the coastal road because it is an accident-prone area.
“Most of the accidents in Metro Cebu are in the coastal road, 80 percent of the fatalities are in the coastal road,” Osmeña said.
But Mayor Michael Rama stood firm on his opposition to the construction of more flyovers in the city if the roads are not widened first.
He also questioned the choice of the area in the SRP where the proposed flyover will be constructed because it’s not an accident-prone area.
He said the accidents occur in the main road of the SRP, and this is where city officials should focus. This road needs to be widened, he said.
He said Osmeña's plan no longer surprised him because this is the thrust of the congressman and his allies.
Osmeña also plans to build a flyover from Salvador St. in Labangon to N. Bacalso Ave.
In a news conference in his house Thursday, Osmeña lauded the City Council for passing a resolution supporting the construction of two flyovers in the city.
There was no discussion when the council approved on mass motion the resolution of Councilors Noel Wenceslao and Augustus Pe, Jr. during the regular session last Wednesday.
Osmeña praised the council for making a decision based on the merits of an issue, and not on what the mayor says or doesn't say.
The two flyovers will be constructed at the junctions of M. J. Cuenco and Gen. Maxilom Avenues and at the junction of Gorordo and Archbishop Reyes Avenues.
Osmeña said Rama hasn't prepared any counter proposal except for general statements.
He said Rama was insincere because in his 18 years as a public official, he cannot recall a single request by Rama for any road widening project in the city.
Instead, Rama kept himself busy organizing Pasko sa V. Rama, the congressman said.
Rama said his role as councilor was to legislate. As vice mayor, his role was to preside over the council sessions.
"I think, he (Osmeña) should go back to learning about roles. A legislator legislates laws, the vice mayor presides over, and the mayor manages," Rama said.
To show Rama's "insincerity," Osmeña brought members of the media to a bridge that connects Barangays Guadalupe and Kalunasan, which he said the Rama administration has overlooked.
The bridge has been built but remains impassable after the side of the road near the bridge collapsed. Riprap works and road widening need to be undertaken so the bridge can be opened to motorists.
Once the bridge is opened, motorists will have an alternative and shorter route to Beverly Hills and Barangay Lahug without passing through Andres Abellana, M. Velez and Escario Streets.
Osmeña said only a small portion of the road needs to be widened so the bridge can be used again.
He told reporters that before Rama bolted Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) last June, Rama promised him that he would repair the road, but nothing has been done since then.
The congressman said that if Rama refuses to do anything to fix the road near the bridge, he will do it himself.
Osmeña told reporters that the status of the bridge shows that Rama is not interested in road widening projects and he is just using it as an excuse "because, I think, he likes to get the money (for flyovers) and use it for his own projects."
But Rama said the road repair project is still up for bidding.
Meanwhile, people lobbying against the construction of flyovers in Metro Cebu are dancing to a different tune. The Reggae beat, that is.
The group, using an account name stopflyovers, has posted online the Stop Flyover Sonata composed by local artist Budoy.
The video was uploaded to the video-sharing website YouTube last Wednesday and as of Thursday afternoon, the 2:59-minute video has been viewed 77 times, gained two “like” votes and one comment supporting the movement.
The video shows transportation systems in the country and abroad, as well as scenes of vendors, pedestrians and runners “wearing” anti-flyover slogans.
“Ang akong message nga ang mga Sugbuanon magpakabana samtang di pa ulahi ang tanan.
Unta tanan nga proyekto sa dakbayan masabtan sa publiko (My message to Cebuanos is they should be aware of issues before it is too late. I hope the public would be able to understand the projects of the City Government),” Budoy told Sun.Star Cebu.
“Kay para man ni unta sa kaayuhan sa kadaghanan. Kinahanglan ma review and ubang alternative (Because these projects are supposed to be for the good of the community. There should be a review of alternative means of transportation),” he said.
The Cebuano song is a sample of Budoy’s signature compositions that follow the Reggae beat. It tells its audience to reflect on the disadvantages of flyovers.
“Mangil-ad, mahugaw ang atong mga karsada, Daghang mga projekto nga mas maayo, Katawhan ang paminawon, Katawhan ang sundon (Flyovers would make our roads unsightly and dirty. There are better projects. The people should be heard, the people should be followed),” the song says.
At the start and end of the song, Budoy says P1.3 billion has been allocated for the construction of five flyovers in Metro Cebu, when only five percent of the population own vehicles.
He also said the Gorordo flyover will destroy the view of a heritage structure, the Asilo dela Milagrosa Church.
Joel Lee of Cebu Permaculture Society told Sun.Star Cebu that the song is Budoy’s contribution to the advocacy against flyovers.
“He (Budoy) has been joining our meetings,” Lee added.
In a separate interview, 350.org country director Vince Cinches said various forms of art also help people understand important issues in a popular tone.
“This (song composition) shows that opposition to the flyover is growing every day. The proponent should re-consider their position because the Cebuano middle class are making their stand known publicly,” he added.(ETB/BAP/Sun.Star Cebu)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 23, 2011.
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