CEBU, Philippines - Several houses and stores along M. Velez corner Don Gil Garcia Streets, near the Cebu Provincial Capitol building, will soon be demolished to give way for a road widening project to be undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
DPWH Cebu City district engineer Nicomedes Leonor said the road widening project will be implemented by their office a few months from now because the DPWH-Manila already allocated P28 million for the undertaking.
Leonor already sent notices to vacate for families who will be affected, although he failed to say how many families.
According to him, the lots occupied by the residents are considered owned by the government because documents show that these are part of a “dry river.” The affected houses are situated right beside the Guadalupe river.
“Naa la’y gamay kaayo nga private lot nga maigo sa road widening pero ato ra na nga i-expropriate,” Leonor told The FREEMAN.
M. Velez Street is the road that links V. Rama Avenue at the so-called “Iskina Banawa” and the Cebu Provincial Capitol building.
This was already widened by the DPWH a few years ago, including the bridge that links barangays Capitol Site and Guadalupe.
The portion after the bridge at the side of the Capitol has been a bottle neck because of houses constructed right beside the road.
Aside from M. Velez Street, the portion of Don Gil Garcia Street beside the Capitol building is also very narrow and is usually bugged by traffic jam during peak hours.
“Kining maong projects humanon g’yud ni karong tuiga kay naa na may budget nga gigahin ang DPWH Central Office,” Leonor told The FREEMAN. —(FREEMAN)