College, traffic, roads top Lolypop’s agenda

CEBU, Philippines - A separate building for the city college, a traffic management plan as well as the widening of alternate roads and creation of diversion roads were promised by councilor Emmarie "Lolypop" Ouano-Dizon if elected as first woman mayor of Mandaue City.

She said the creation of another Mandaue City College will be her first priority as mayor.

"As of the moment, ang Mandaue City College naa ra gyud luyo sa Mandaue City Sports Complex. At present, baho kaayo kay ang likod sa Mandaue City Sports Complex ang merkado man," she said during The Freeman and Banat News Know Your Candidate: Cebu Vote 2016 Roundtable yesterday morning.

Dizon said the city government has set aside a P10-million budget for MCC and should have a separate building, now that the city is considered highly-urbanized.

She also plans to merge the two administration of the MCC, which are separately governed by Paulus Cañete, who is set to run for congress under her slate "Anak Sa Mandaue," and by the current administration of Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Traffic

Since traffic is a major problem of the city, she said there should be a traffic management plan as the city currently has none.

"Our immediate solution ana is first we need a traffic management plan. As of the moment, the city doesn't have that traffic management plan. I requested in the council last year to have a traffic management study," she said, adding that the city's has 29 consultants but none are experts in traffic.

She added that the city needs to widen alternative roads and diversion road along UN avenue going to the northern part of Cebu. She also supports the creation of Metro Cebu Development Authority, similar to the Metro Manila Development Authority.

"We need to consider it. Bisa’g unsa ka nindot imong plano sa traffic management sa Mandaue, we have to coordinate with the neighboring cities. Mao man g'yud nay importante dili ka'y magbuot-buot ta," she said.

She backs the long-term goal of Mega Cebu and Department of Public Works and Highways plan of building a scenic coastal road going to northern Cebu.

Disaster preparedness

Saying that the city has no master drainage plan, she said the city's creeks should be cleaned to prevent flooding. She also wants to revive the Butuanon River.

"Ngano kaya man sa Iloilo, ngano kaya man sa Marikina? So makaya gyud sa Mandaue. Phase by phase lang," she said, citing the esplanade in Iloilo City.

She added that if elected mayor, she will ask support from the senators and other allies under the United Nationalist Alliance.

"Bisa’g one phase lang, nindot kaayo nga naa tay esplanade in Mandaue. That's also one of our beautification projects," she said.

Fire victims

Ouano-Dizon said fire victims currently housed in the grounds of the Cebu International Convention Center will be moved back to part of the 9.2-hectare lot donated by her grandfather Ingko Pedong.

"Gihatag na niya sa mga urban poor so everybody was asking kung ipabalik ba nato sila, definitely ipabalik gyud nato sila because gihatag naman na nila sa akong apohan," she said.

Prior to bringing back around 2,000 fire victims, she added that the area should have the right roads and the right house divisions.

"Ipabalik man gani nato sila pero tarong na naa na'y saktong dan, saktong division. Nindot na siya nga urban poor area unlike before sa nasunog," she said.

She said that barangays should have fire hydrants and other firefighting equipment, which will be supported by the city.

"We should set aside funds for that. It is costly mao na di kaya sa barangay. I think city should support this, matagaan nato ang mga barangay, ma-implement na nato," she said.

Youth/Sports

Dizon said sports activities involving the youth should be organized throughout the year, after she noticed that these programs were only revived every summer or every city and barangay fiesta.

"We want to have this all-year round. Unya naa sad ta'y mga seminars, naa ta'y mga different activities not only in sports but also for the youth development programs like outreach programs," she said.

Drugs, crime prevention

Installation closed-circuit television cameras and lampposts in crime-prone areas in the barangays should be done to prevent crime in the city, she said.

"Mga eskina mao man nay prone sa kawat og dunggab. There should be more visibility sa police og tanod labi na sa mga barangays," she said.

Ouano-Dizon said she is satisfied by the number of policemen in the city and allotting support funds for them will make them perform well in their duties.

As for the issue of illegal drugs, Dizon said they can subsidize existing rehabilitation centers in the city rather than making new ones which is costlier.

"Based on my research sa atong PNP reports, ang atong (issue sa) drugs is moderate ra man dili ingon ana ka-severe. Ang ato lang kung atong mga Mandauehanon ganahan mo-avail ana, we can subsidize didto sa existing rehab centers nga naa," she said.

Dizon, however, said that she is not in favor of arming barangay tanods with guns as it will make residents feel threatened. — (FREEMAN)