THREE years after the Banilad-Talamban (Ban-Tal) flyover was inaugurated, a road widening project in the area will finally start.
The Cebu City Council has asked that the City Planning and Development Office impose a “no development zone” policy along the area that will be widened, which is from Gov. Cuenco Ave. starting at the corner of Mahiga Creek in Barangay Banilad all the way to Cabancalan in Barangay Talamban.
Even if the Council is opposed to the proposed Ciudad project of the Fifth Avenue Development Corp. and Cebu Provincial Government, the move for a “no development zone” is not about the conflict because Ciudad lies before the Mahiga Creek intersection.
Besides, there is already a “no development zone” in the area where Ciudad is located because of traffic considerations.
The Council also thanked Rep. Rachel Marguerite del Mar (Cebu City, north district) who appropriated P150 million for the road widening in the area.
This is contrary to what critics of the proposed flyover projects think. They are against the construction of flyovers because it is not a guarantee to solve traffic problems unless a road widening is done.
The Bosconian International Chamber of Commerce-Cebu Chapter has formally expressed their disapproval of the flyovers.
The group recommends that an immediate moratorium on the flyover projects of Cebu be declared by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“We asked that a thorough review is made before any further action is taken to commence construction,” read the position paper.
They said flyover projects lacked consultations and are unacceptable because these are not proposed in relation the comprehensive urban master plan of the city.
“This has to be the result of a participatory process involving the engaged and enlightened stakeholders, with the guidance of experienced urban planning specialists.
It is incomprehensible to us how the proponents continue to insist on going ahead with the project despite the open declaration of Citom that the flyovers will not solve the traffic problem, but will present new safety hazards”, they said.
They said the Historical and Heritage Value of the Urban Core of Cebu cannot be defaced by flyovers.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 09, 2011.
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