Dialogue to solve CBRT spat urged

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival remains hopeful that Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia would sit together in a dialogue and find a common ground to resolve the issue concerning the ongoing construction of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT).

Archival said he will file another resolution urging Rama to reach out to the governor and sit down in a dialogue to iron out their differences. Earlier, the City Council approved a similar resolution but the mayor refused to heed.

Despite Rama’s refusal to heed his previous resolution, Archival is not giving up just yet.

“So during that time nga naa silay mu argumento, medyo mga nay emotions nga maigo no, right now kung mahunahuna sa atong duha ka heads sa Cebu City and Provincial Government, it might be na ma die down nato ang emotions,” said Archival.

Reinforcing his earlier resolution reflections the desire of the members of the City Council for harmony between the two political leaders of Cebu, said Archival.

Should his reinforced resolution is again rejected, Archival believes that the best option left is to seek judicial intervention.

“Kay I think kung di gyud ni masulbad, ang tan-aw nako,  I think mangita ta og something like court decision, bisa’g we call that a friendly complaint or a friendly suit kay wa man guy laing, para nako, way lain nga maka solve niani,” said Archival.

Archival said that as a member of the legislative body, he study the chances of bringing this concern to the court.

He believes that there is an urgency to resolve the issue before the rainy season would come and affect the ongoing civil works.

“There could be accidents na mahitabo and kinsa may mabasol niana, ang duha ra gihapon ka institution,” said Archival.

The governor has ordered the contractor of CBRT to stop the construction of its stations between Fuente Osmeña and the Capitol Building for lack of permit from the National Historical Institute of the Philippines.

The CBRT stations on Osmeña Boulevard would “photo bombed” the Capitol Building, a cultural heritage site. — (FREEMAN)