To ease traffic congestion: Loop road pushed

CEBU, Philippines — At no cost to City Hall, what used to be just a two-lane Lahug-Guadalupe bypass road in Brgy. Guadalupe, Cebu City would soon be made into a four-lane street as part of a circumferential road that is seen to help ease traffic congestion in the city center.

This was after the signing of a public-private partnership agreement between City Hall and Monterrazas de Cebu last Oct. 27, or three days after Rama inspected the site.

In a report by the “Sugboanon Channel” of the City Government, Mayor Michael Rama and Monterrazas de Cebu officials broke ground for the project last Thursday, Dec. 21, at Don Gervacio Quijada St. in Banawa, Guadalupe.

City administrator Collin N. Rosell, City Planning and Development Officer Joseph Michael “Yumi” Espina, and Guadalupe officials led by Brgy. Captain Apple Gacasan also attended the event.

As agreed, Monterrazas de Cebu would shoulder the cost and expenses for the “repair, rehabilitation, and enhancement” of the existing infrastructure, to include the drainage system, sidewalk, curb and gutter, planting strips and greeneries.

“We chose to undertake this project as part of our corporate social responsibility,” said Engr. Slater Young, Monterrazas’ chief strategy officer.

As reported, the soon-to-be four-lane road would stretch for a kilometer up to the corner with V. Rama Ave. to connect with the portion that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is constructing.

DPWH has started groundwork along the Abellana Extn.-J. Solon Drive-La Guardia segment of the circumferential road that Rama said he lobbied with DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan after his election last year.

Monterrazas is expected to start civil works in January, while City Hall would clear obstructions, issue permits and licenses, and facilitate inter-agency coordination, traffic management, and community information drive.

Both City Hall and Monterrazas acknowledged that the project should be undertaken “with urgency”, so a project management team would regularly meet to discuss progress and recommend further actions to keep it within or even ahead of schedule.

The road Monterrazas is expanding is part of the City Planning and Development Office's circumferential road plan, which Espina presented during the groundbreaking.

“We are building towards a Singapore-like Cebu City with Melbourne features,” he said.

As mapped by CPDO, the circumferential road is intended to reduce traffic volume from the city center, easing the situation there.

Espina said the circumferential road starts from the South Road Properties, through a portion of the soon-to-be-filled up Pond A; through Cabreros St. in Brgy. Basak San Nicolas; to F. Llamas St. in barangays Punta Princesa and Tisa; to Katipunan St. then to the hills of Banawa, between Paseo Arcenas and Apple Residences; then by Banawa Elementary School towards Quijada St.

It would then connect with Andres Abellana Ext., linking with J. Solon Drive and with La Guardia St. in Brgy. Lahug via Salinas Drive; and finally with St. John Paul II Ave. all the way by SM City Cebu at the North Reclamation Area. — /RHM (FREEMAN)