Young echoes Tom's criticism vs. Asilo nuns

CEBU, Philippines - Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young yesterday echoed the criticism of South district Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña against the nuns at the Asilo dela Medalla Milagrosa who are opposing the planned construction of a flyover project in front of their Church along Gorordo Avenue.

Young said the concerned nuns must allow that the road shall be widened beyond the concrete fence of the church because the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), especially that DPWH officials already announced that the roadsides on both sides of the flyover shall be two lanes.

The nuns were earlier quoted as saying that they are against the construction of a flyover project because it will destroy the physical appearance of the church. Young argued, however, that even the priests of the Basilica del Sto. Niño constructed a building that also affected the beauty of the church.

He distributed photographs of a building built behind the Basilica del Santo Niño, saying, “Ang Basilica gani nga tinuod g’yud nga relics or religious icon naghimo man og building nga nakabalda sa physical appearance sa simbahan, ang Asilo pa kaha nga dili man g’yud na ma-consider nga relics.”

Young also presented some documents issued by the City Assessor’s office that showed that the Asilo dela Medalla Milagrosa owns P140 million worth of 11,000 square meter lots and some structures that also cost P41 million, but it did not pay taxes to the city because of its stand that it is religious institutions.

“Kon pabayron pa ang Asilo og buhis matag tuig magbayad unta sila og subra sa P400,000. Angay sila nga dili mobabag sa flyover project kay ang tumong ana pagsulbad man sa traffic problem,” Young said.

Young said the Church’s concrete fence shall be moved backward to allow the road to be widened. However, the DPWH officials assured that the concrete fence of the Church will not be affected of the flyover construction, but it is the buildings and structures in front of Asilo that will be affected.

Meanwhile, the Movement for a Livable Cebu has called on the proponents of the two flyovers in Cebu City for an immediate moratorium to review alternatives, rethink basic choices, and re-imagine Metro Cebu.

The group issued the statement during the dialogue with DPWH representatives at the Asilo dela Medalla Milagrosa yesterday.

Some residents along Gorordo Avenue where one of the flyovers will be constructed disproved the claim of DPWH-7 legal officer Agustinito Hermoso that the project passed through a public hearing in the barangay.

Hermoso yesterday assured that not “even a centimeter” of the Asilo dela Milagrosa area will be touched in the construction of the flyover as they are already making revision of the plan.

However, this has not stopped MLC from calling for immediate review, and call for a summit that will lead to the making of an updated and integrated land use and transport plan for Metro Cebu through a truly participatory process.

MLC coordinator Joel Lee said there is a need to find a specialist in urban planning who is capable of translating the vision for Metro Cebu into a viable implementation plan.

This includes the contiguous mass transit system such as the Bus Rapid Transit on road and Boat Rapid Transit on water; true and useable sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes.

Lee’s group earlier published an open letter to President Benig-no Simeon Aquino III informing the latter of their strong opposition to the project.

Hermoso assured the group that he will elevate the concerns and relay the sentiments of various sectors to their central office, saying it is not in their level to decide.

The Committee on Sacred Art and Architecture of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church also issued a manifesto yesterday appealing Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel del Mar and the DPWH to respect and uphold the law.

The Committee chaired by Monsignor Carlito Pono invoked the protection of both Asilo dela Medalla Milagrosa and the Carreta Catholic Cemetery as provided in the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

The same law is being cited by the National Committee on Monuments and Sites in their opposition on the construction of the two flyovers for damage it will entail to the cultural values of the old thoroughfare where a number of heritage structures are located.

The NCMS recommended that project be stopped and that a master plan be developed to resolve the heavy traffic in Metro Cebu and that the National Commission on the Culture and the Arts be part of the formulation of the said plan.

The Young Ladies Association of Charity, Inc. also issued manifesto opposing the said projects and called on the proponents to allocate the limited resources to address the true needs of the people. (FREEMAN)