Right–of-way lot owners: Show us the money first

CEBU, Philippines - The financial stability of the Provincial Capitol’s coffers is reportedly taking its toll as well on infrastructure projects deemed to be very beneficial for the public once completed.

Even with negotiations having started since 2011, the Department of Public Works and Highways has not pushed through with the planned road widening in the Tayud, Consolacion-Liloan Project which is needed to utilize the full potential of the Cansaga Bay Bridge in the North Cebu Coastal Road.

This is because owners of properties which will be affected with the road widening have not agreed to sign the final papers, said Acting Governor Agnes Magpale.

In their recent meeting with the Metro Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB), Magpale said DPWH-7 Regional Director Ador Canlas approached her and expressed his concern on the expansion and upgrading of the Tayud-Consolacion-Liloan Road.

In 2011, suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said that the Provincial Government will pay for the lot to be used for the expansion after DPWH stated that they cannot use the allocated P150 million road right-of-way (RROW) acquisition funds since the Tayud-Consolacion-Liloan Road is a provincial road.

Last year, Garcia said that negotiations were already undergoing between the Provincial government and lot owners who would be affected by the expansion.

But Magpale said that this remains to be a problem since the lot owners are hesitant on signing the deed of sale as they informed Provincial Engineering office OIC Hector Jamora that they would want to see the check first amounting to P3.9 million.

“Wala na gyud pagsalig, kani lagi daghan utang ang provincial government,” said Magpale. (They don’t trust us anymore because the Province has a lot of payables.)

But Magpale said that they cannot possibly issue the payment first since their basis in preparing the check would be the signed documents of the lot owners.

During their last meeting for department heads, Magpale said that it was recommended that a voucher would be shown instead to the owners, assuring them that they would be paid.

“Pangitaan man jud na namo ug kwarta. I-prioritize na namo.” (We will prioritize payment for that.)

Magpale said that she will be meeting again with department heads tomorrow for final feedback.

As of now, Magpale said that the only thing lacking for the project to continue is the acquisition of the road-right-of-way which is vital since roads along the municipality of Consolacion and Liloan are narrow. With the road widening, the two-lane road would be expanded to four lanes.

The North Cebu Coastal Road was built to ease traffic congestion along the national highway from Mandaue City to the northern part of the province. (FREEMAN)