Governor asked to address traffic near Mandaue-Mactan bridge

CEBU, Philippines - Concerned by the worsening traffic going to the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, Provincial Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy has authored a resolution asking the provincial government to help solve the problem.

In a proposed resolution, Sitoy is asking Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who also chairs the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board, to help address the traffic plaguing the routes leading towards the bridge and beyond.

The route leading to the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge creates daily traffic congestion during rush hours especially in Mandaue area near the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM), Sitoy said.

The sixth district’s representative to the Provincial Board said that under the Local Government Code, local government officials like the governor can intercede in the traffic problems.

Meanwhile, in a separate resolution, Sitoy also asked Garcia to authorize the LGUs in the province to make arrangements with the banking institutions to pave way for an agreement that would allow LGUs to extend their credit lines up to not less than P1 million, which will serve as principal source of funds for the full implementation of the e-GWEN program.

The amount will be covering the aspects of Cleanliness, Health and Sanitation, Greening and Protection of the Environment, Creativity and Aesthetic Impact, Tourism Promotion, Education, Heritage Preservation, and Governance and System Structures.

The deficiency of funds in the municipalities and component cities is one of the main reasons why the program is not yet fully implemented despite its noble objectives, Sitoy explained.

Sitoy stated that an agreement can be reached among the province, the component cities and municipalities and the funding institution to financially assist the LGUs but with the usual safeguards and the compliance with the terms and conditions of the funding institutions.  (THE FREEMAN)