At no cost to prov’l government, Korean firm interested in Cebu super highway
CEBU, Philippines - A South Korean government-owned and controlled firm is interested to undertake the proposed Trans-axial Highway into a Tool Highway of the Province of Cebu, at no cost to the Provincial Government.
Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon invited some of the company’s technical people last Monday to meet Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and the members of the Provincial Board.
Salimbangon said that before his invitation, he was already invited and visited the place in South Korea where the same project is already in place.
He said that the project will not be designed based on the thickness of the concrete road but the speed limit needs of the travelers.
These include the making of a tunnel in a mountain, and bridges to avoid curves in the highway.
Salimbangon said that a 150-kilometer highway only took them one hour to travel.
“If this will happen to us sa Cebu, maoy daku kaayong development nga mahitabo,†Salimbangon said. (This could be the biggest development yet for Cebu.)
Salimbangon is asking the support of the Provincial Government as he is set to file a bill supporting the project earlier proposed by the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez whose daughter, Engr. Grecilda Sanchez, is now a member of the PB.
Davide, on the other hand, asked the Korean technical people to formalize their request so he can act on it officially.
Salimbangon said that his bill would include the authority to a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme or to be given to particular agency.
His staff is now coordinating with the office of Sanchez who has the initial study of the project.
Salimbangon decided to support the project knowing the benefits it can give to make far flung areas closer to Metro Cebu and for tourism development of the far towns in the northern and southern parts of Cebu.
The trans-axial highway was earlier estimated to cost P50 billion and would have feeder roads connecting to cities and municipalities. — (FREEMAN)
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