Lapu-Lapu pours in millions of projects to decongest traffic

CEBU, Philippines -  As the new highly urbanized city in Cebu, Lapu-Lapu City has invested millions of pesos to expand the city’s road system as an alternative to other expensive transport systems.

Mayor Arturo Radaza, who is ending his third and last term as mayor in June 2010, said the city has widened and rehabilitated roads.

The road from S. Osmena Street will start from Radaza Plaza going to Petron-Basak to the corner of aviation road.

“Being the major choke points in the city’s traffic flow, we saw the need for road widening projects as an alternative to other expensive mass transport systems,” Radaza said.

While these may not solve wholly the crisis in the urban transportation, Radaza said “the Oponganon’s at least will be given the opportunity to have an efficient flow of traffic and the greater movement of people and goods that are essential to the city’s economic growth.”

In his accomplishment report furnished to reporters, Radaza said the two new roads in Basak will ease the traffic at the corner of Mactan Doctors’ Hospital.

The mayor also said the city also opened another access road leading to the interior of barangay Looc or the Looc Guiwanon Road.

“This will not only make travel in the area much easier but also to foster economic activity in the interior of the city’s barangays,” he said.

The city has also improved the drainage system in the Basak-Gun-ob area, he said.

The mayor said the project was meant to address the long standing sewerage problem in the area.

“This in turn will lure in more tourists that will spur economic activities in the island and increase employment opportunities of the people,” Radaza said.

In health services, Radaza said the city spent a great deal of money to renovate and acquire saving equipment for the city hospital.

The city also donated an ambulance as well as a standby generator to ensure the continuous and efficient delivery of services to the people. — Garry B. Lao   (FREEMAN NEWS)