Traffic woes in Mandaue prelude to better days – execs

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu sixth district Representative Gabriel Luis Quisumbing has assured the public that the traffic woes brought about by the simultaneous road repair and concreting projects in Mandaue City is something that will translate to convenience in the next 15 to 20 years.

Quisumbing said the government is upgrading the roads and the drainage system that had been neglected in the past decades. The Department of Public Works and Highways is implementing the 12-inch design and thickness in concreting the roads.

“We will not have to worry about the state of the most of our roads in Mandaue for the next 15 to 20 years. Para nako, it’s a sacrifice now but a long term trade-off is we won’t have to worry about the streets for quite some time,” Quisumbing said during the “Tapok-Tapok Media Forum”yesterday.

While not claiming credit for the projects, Quisumbing said this is the first time in many years that the local government unit and the national government is working together – setting aside political differences – to ensure the projects are realized.

“In the past, because of away sa politika, projects did not take off. Karon, nag-apas gyud ta… for many years neglected gyud ta,” Quisumbing said.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes who was also in the forum said the rerouting and one-way traffic scheme is just an initial stage and more measures will be put in place to decongest traffic in the city.

Cortes pointed out that while Mandaue has a population of 336,000 as of 2010, the volume of vehicles that pass through the city has reached 377,000, based on the count of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

“Ang Mandaue, kita’y giagian sa tanan… artery ta, gateway ta, ingon ana ka vital ang Mandaue nga giagian ta sa tanan. You cannot go to Cebu without passing Mandaue and you cannot leave Cebu without passing Mandaue kay ang bridge going to the airport naa sa Mandaue,” Cortes said.

Like Quisumbing, he appealed for understanding from the public.

“We are not doing this for us officials but we are doing this for the entire Cebu,” he said.  (FREEMAN)