Two converging roads worth re-engineering

We have been saying, all along, that our city grew out of necessity. It did not benefit from a deliberate forward planning. But, of course, we cannot (and do not intend to) blame our leaders of many decades ago for, in fact, we should and can only thank them for meeting the demands of their time. After all, they only responded to the needs of their era with what they had at their disposal.

To avoid speaking in ambiguous terms, let us take as a specific example the case of Colon Street. At the crossing of Leon Kilat and Borromeo streets, we see no infrastructure logic. The angles of their convergence cannot provide any clue why they were so built   At its other end, where the obelisk announcing its being the oldest street in the country stands, the merging of Mabini and Sikatuna Streets only demonstrates the absence of any reason why they should funnel into Colon.

His Honor, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is most fortunate. On his first term as a mayor, he is in the position to improve on what his grandfather, the city charter’s author, had envisioned our city be and better still make it compete with the other leading metropolis the world over in terms of physical beauty and organization. It is a good time for the mayor to plan today the infrastructure which the city may need twenty years from now.

I am certain that within our midst are some of the most respected engineers and urban planners in the country. The mayor should tap their expertise. While their sense of involvement may prompt them to volunteer their services, the city should pay for their time. If today there are many highly paid city consultants whose tasks are less defined, with more reason should the mayor pool together the planners and allocate for them reasonable emoluments. A poster reading “If education is expensive, try ignorance” applies here.

What these professional may come up with should be an ambitious plan. Not only do we deserve the best from the brightest, we cannot expect anything less. But, since it will be quite foolhardy to attempt to do everything at one time, the mayor may adopt a verifiable policy and list down priorities.

I suggest that, as a priority, Mayor Rama give a good look at Colon Street. He will notice that from corner D. Jakosalem towards Mabini, business, if any, has always been less prosperous. It is in stark contrast to the area where the Gaisano firm stands. If the city punches a road from the where Colon ends (at corner Mabini Street) and extends it towards M. J. Cuenco Avenue, I believe it will accomplish two things. First, traffic will become a lot smoother and faster and second, business will perk up.   

To complement it, the city has to widen Mabini Street, from the Basilica, and extend it from corner Bonifacio towards T. Padilla and even, all the way to, Imus Street. Built decades ago with tartanilla as its principal user, its present narrow width is a little better than useless. Anyway, the cost of this project will not be that high because no expensive buildings may be hit by such an expansion. 

Right, there is so much infra structure reengineering to do and whatever the mayor opts to do first, he is in the best position to know it.