Group dismayed by PNoy remarks on flyovers

CEBU, Philippines - A civil society group has expressed dismay over remarks of President Benigno Aquino III on flyover projects and those opposing it.

Movement for a Livable Cebu, the group originally known as “No To Flyover Movement,” said they were not pleased with the president’s announcements when he graced the local Liberal Party and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan proclamation rally at the Provincial Capitol grounds Friday evening.

The statement, delivered by lead convenor Marc Canton, laid down two main points of the president’s speech that offended the group specifically those that tackled flyover projects in Cebu.

“On the first count, it is disappointing to hear him speak of flyovers as the solution to traffic woes afflicting Cebu. The main reason is, no one has been able to provide factual evidence that the current flyovers have indeed alleviated the traffic congestion,” said Canton.

He even emphasized that these project have even caused “chaos including in intersections before and after the flyovers” saying that having politicians backing the project does not make it “viable.”

“We need to hear from traffic experts and urban planners. For starters, why don’t we re-open the TWG Report that was commissioned by the Infrastructure Development Committee of RDC-7 only to be ignored by the IDC itself?” he challenged.

The second thing that disappointed the group was when Aquino alleged that “critics” were merely opposing the project without offering substantial alternatives.

“In fact, since October of 2011, we count at least 12 times wherein we were in letter contact or face to face meetings with DPWH and other government offices including the Office of the President. We have proposed plans written by Cebu’s leading engineers and urban planners and are still awaiting a response from them. One of our proposals  include a “flared intersection” which happens to be able to carry a higher volume load than any of the existing flyovers and we have them here in Cebu already.

Furthermore, each flared intersection only costs 20 to 25 percent of the cost of a flyover, Canton said.

But the group said there was also a part of Aquino’s speech that heartened them.

“We are heartened by the President’s statement that if ‘we don’t want flyovers, then we can find solutions.’ We have hope that what the President meant here is we can propose more efficient and cost-effective solutions based on factual evidence and objective analysis as opposed to political factors,” he continued.

MLC stressed proper public consultation must be conducted before any more flyovers are constructed in Cebu City, otherwise they are ready and determined to fight it through all legal means available.

Apart from closely guarding the implementation of these deferred infrastructure projects, the group said more input from other members of the civil society, business and government sectors would be beneficial to “to objectively seek optimal solutions to our traffic problems.” —/BRP (FREEMAN)