As midterm elections near: ‘Asphalt storm’
CEBU, Philippines — With the 2025 midterm elections fast approaching, Cebu City has intensified its P240 million asphalting projects, fueling speculations about the timing of infrastructure works coinciding with election season.
Approved as part of the 2023 annual budget, the projects began in October 2024 yet and resumed this week after a brief holiday break.
Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the committee on infrastructure, explained that the massive asphalting operations aim to address long-standing requests from various barangays, many of which have been pending for years.
“Daghan daghan nata’g na respondehan nga mga barangay,” said Guardo.
While the majority of lowland barangays no longer require asphalt overlays due to their already concreted roads, Guardo noted that most requests come from upland barangays in the South District, portions of the North District, and interior areas such as Apas, Banilad, Talamban, and Capitol.
“Ang lowland, mostly, concreted na ang mga dalan sa downtown area so wala na kaayoy major concerns for the request of asphalt overlay,” he said.
He added that P15 million of the budget remains unspent and is earmarked for other infrastructure projects, such as asphalting basketball courts in various barangays.
The timing of the asphalting projects became a topic of debate during a Cebu City Council session on December 1, 2024. Councilor Franklyn Ong, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), expressed skepticism, calling it an “asphalt storm” typical of election years.
Ong pointed out that road maintenance, such as fixing potholes, could often be achieved without resorting to full asphalt overlays, which he described as a “waste of money.”
The discussion prompted Councilor Rey Gealon, chairman of the Traffic Management Council (TMC), to push a resolution asking the mayor’s office to coordinate closely with the ABC to prioritize legitimate barangay requests and avoid politicizing the projects. The proposal was approved by the members of the council.
However, Guardo clarified that prioritization was based on assessments conducted by engineers from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW).
“Ang engineering na ang nag-conduct of assessment,” he said.
Sinulog preparations
In addition to the asphalting works, the city is focused on ensuring road safety for the Sinulog 2025 celebration. Guardo said road repairs and patching works along key routes, including P. del Rosario, Mango Avenue, Jones Avenue, and Fuente Osmeña leading to the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), are a top priority.
He assured that all road patching will be completed just before the processions and grand parade begin, adding that a 300-meter radius around the parade routes is being prioritized for safety.
The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project has also contributed to roadworks, with ongoing excavation along Osmeña Boulevard for the Link to Port feature.
To avoid compromising the safety of procession and parade participants, Guardo said they agreed to cover the excavated parts and temporarily stop the operations to make way for the highly anticipated event.
“Temporarily tabunan rasad nila’g gravel para lang sa safety, para di sad malubong kung mag ulan, wa say open debris nga maka disgrasya,” said Guardo.
He added that this alternative was necessary because the completion could not align with the start of the Novena Masses, as some portions of the stretch are near the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
As chairman of the technical infrastructure committee, Guardo also announced that clearing of dangling wires, locally referred to as “spaghetti wires,” is also underway along the parade and procession routes. — (FREEMAN)
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