CEBU, Philippines - Two proposed vehicle overpass or flyover projects in Cebu City again became the hot topic in the full council meeting of the Regional Development Council in Tabilaran City, Bohol yesterday.
Former Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar, who attended the meeting, said that a motion for re consideration will be filed before the Cebu City Development Council (CCDC) to endorse the two flyover projects, which were rejected by RDC.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who presided over the meeting as chairman of RDC-7, at first did not recognize del Mar’s presence.
The matter on the two vehicle overpass projects was not in the agenda of yesterday’s meeting, but came up in the matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.
The last RDC-7 meeting was held in the Province of Siquijor in March.
Clarification
Cebu private sector representative Fr. Margarito Alingasa brought up the matter when he asked for clarification on the resolution previously approved by RDC Central Visayas.
The subject resolution is endorsing the inclusion of the Priority Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) of the Department of Public Works and Highways Cebu City Engineering District in the Consolidated Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Proposal of the DPWH subject to the endorsement of the Cebu City Development Council (CCDC).
Excluded from the list of projects to be endorsed are the two vehicle overpasses.
Cebu private sector representative Teresa Fernandez reminded the body that the matter was already clarified in the previous full council meeting in Siquijor, which Alingasa failed to attend.
Rama explained that the motion of Alingasa was only to bring to the attention of the RDC to be guided appropriately for possible action to be made.
Resolution
Rama asked RDC vice chairperson, Buenaventura Go-Soco to read the CCDC resolution approved last June 15, 2012.
Resolution No.001-0615 series of 2012, approving the motion not to endorse to the RDC Central Visayas Region the proposed construction of two flyovers at the junction of Juan Luna Avenue and MJ Cuenco Avenue in the amount of P230 million and at the junction of Juan Luna Avenue and Cardinal Rosales Avenue in the amount of P200 million for a total of P430 million.
When he was finally recognized, del Mar thanked Rama for his “kind consideration.”
Del Mar talks
“May I apologize that we are taking the time of the RDC to discuss a local project which should be solved on the local level,” del Mar told the body.
Del Mar said that when CCDC passed the resolution, his daughter, Rep. Rachel “Cutie” de Mar was not around and she was not represented to justify the proposed projects.
He said that they will be filing a petition for reconsideration in the next meeting of CCDC.
Del Mar asked the RDC to discuss the matter as soon as they get hold of the copy of the CCDC resolution as he withdrew his objection to the motion of Ali-ngasa upon knowing that it was only for information.
Rama told reporters that the CCDC resolution would be part of the record and for the RDC to be aware of the said document.
Earlier, the RDC 7 wanted the projects to be deleted from the list of endorsed programs, activities and projects for 2013, because they were inserted without the endorsement of CCDC and the RDC Infrastructure Development Committee.
In its consultative meeting last June 15, the CCDC rejected the proposal without any opposition from the 61 barangay captains and their representatives, who attended the meeting.
In rejecting the request for endorsement, the CCDC wants the P430-million budget for the proposed two flyovers to be realigned and used for drainage projects in the city as reflected in the drainage master plan. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)