Rama: No flyover with narrow roads

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama will push to put off the proposed construction of the P150 million flyover project at the corner of General Maxilom and M.J. Cuenco Avenues until the road widening project in Barangay Hipodromo up to Barangay Mabolo is completed.

Rama was reacting to a published report quoting former Congressman Raul Del Mar, which says that construction of the flyover may begin even before the road widening project is completed.

The road widening project is being implemented along M.J. Cuenco Avenue near the border of Barangay Hipodromo to C. Mina Street in Barangay Mabolo. The project will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The mayor, however, refused to answer how he intends to stop DPWH should the agency insists on starting the construction.

DPWH officials through District Engineer Nicomedes Leonor and Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel Del Mar have consulted with owners of the lots that will be affected by the road widening project, but no clear agreements have been arrived just yet.

Del Mar and the DPWH officials will meet with the lot owners again on June 30.

Rama said Del Mar and DPWH should listen to the opinion of the urban planner, particularly the concern that the traffic situation along M.J. Cuenco Avenue will worsen if the flyover will be constructed ahead of the road widening project.

“Kanus-a man kana sila nahimong engineer?” Rama said, referring to the statement of the older Del Mar that the two projects can be implemented separately. 

The mayor said the opinion of the urban planner must prevail even if the DPWH officials who proposed the flyover are all engineers.

Del Mar believes that a flyover will minimize vehicle traffic at the intersections in Barangay Caretta. (FREEMAN)