Rama: No useless skywalks, flyovers

CEBU, Philippines - In contrast to the statement of his political opponent, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will demolish "useless" skywalks and flyovers if he gets reelected to address the traffic problem in the city.

"It is a comprehensive approach. First let me (get) reelected, second we have billions of money, third give me a president, and all of these and you will see after three years being Cebu where life is worth living for (sic)," Rama said at The Freeman and Banat News' Know Your Candidate: Cebu Vote 2016 Roundtable yesterday.

Rama, who is seeking reelection for his third and last term, also wanted to connect the city's buildings so people will not have to cross the streets.

"Sa ubang mga lugar ang ilang skywalk kay connected sa other buildings diri sa atoa kay independent. When we talk about very practical skywalk, it should be connected with buildings.

Naa ta didto sa Countrymall but not necessarily connected and in Robinsons Fuente on the right side of the building," he said.

Rama said he does not want flyovers because these would only create too much obstruction and disturbance, adding these structures are against the equal protection clause of the "right to life, right of liberty, and the right of property" under the Constitution.

"I do not go for flyover, you will be overflying, that's why I got shocked with 16 flyovers be introduced in Cebu City. My God, you will convert Cebu City from an elegant historical city to a turtle city," Rama said.

 "Here in Cebu City its Guinness book of records, we have skywalk ending in a sidewalk, skywalks ending on the road. If I have a chance of getting reelected, I will have it all removed because they are not useful," Rama said.

Rama said the city needs to widen its road networks to solve the traffic problem.

 "What we need in Cebu City is road widening, then traffic is solvable" he ended.

 "We don't need flyover, what we need is a traffic master plan, road widening, flare, sophisticated traffic," Rama said.

Former mayor Tomas Osmeña said, also during The Freeman and Banat News Roundtable, that he will build 16 flyovers to address the traffic problem in Cebu City if he gets elected. 

Osmeña claimed that there was already a study conducted by Japanese engineers and among the recommendations to solve traffic was to build more flyovers.

Bus rapid transit

Rama and Osmeña, however, agreed that the city needs the Bus Rapid Transit more than the Metro Rail Transit or Light Rail Transit systems.

He recalled having opposed to the president's plan to put up MRT or LRT in Cebu City when he was yet a member of the Liberal Party.

Rama said he told the president that the BRT is what Cebu City needs.

He asked the Cebuanos to support his president so he would have all his projects done. Rama is supporting Vice President Jejomar Binay. - /FPL (FREEMAN)