Guardo: ‘Link to Port’ to help revitalize Colon

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) projects “Link to Port” component will be helpful for the revitalization of the downtown area, especially of Colon, the oldest street in the country, Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo said.

In an interview with The Freeman, the Cebu City Government’s infrastructure overseer said he agrees with City Planning and Development Officer Josep Michael “Yumi” Espina on the need to revitalize Colon, especially since many businesses, preferring the new malls, have moved out of the area.

“Karon ang mga establishments within Colon, with the presence of malls in other areas, namalhin na nang mga nag-rent diha sa area…Eventually, if dili nato i-revive, mawa gyud na dihang Colon,” he warned.

“We have to re-innovate, re-introduce, re-package (the downtown area),” he added.

The CBRT Link to Port feature, which aims to pedestrianize the portion of Osmen~a Blvd. from the P. del Rosario St. junction to Plaza Independencia by expanding the sidewalks, aligns with this desire, with the aim to also fully pedestrianize Colon St.

Guardo, however, said they want the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to consider a redesign so the Link to Port feature would conform with and complement the City’s own plan to pedestrianize its heritage district.

“Ilaha i-include ang P. del Rosario…If plans can be redesigned, ang kato lang sang covered sa heritage district kay dili paman kaayo na ma-appreciate sa public…Ang issue kay ma-constricted ang dan. Di pa siya apil sa heritage district surrounding the historical sites. If kani osa, it will be much appreciated by the public,” he said.

“Abroad, it’s like that, walkable…. If kana diha, mahuman na na, ang mga manggawas sa Sto. Nin~o, naa na nya diha mag-barbeque, coffee shop, maaligre na na diha actually. Mga turista manglakaw na na diha dapita. Mao man nay ilang gusto,” he added.

The City already has a rerouting scheme once Colon Street becomes fully pedestrianized, or that no vehicles would no longer be allowed to traverse it.

Guardo, though, said that DOTr should include the improvement of the downtown area drainage system for the Link to Port feature to work.

“Once it will be declared a walkable district dapat ma-address na ang flooding sa area kay what’s the essence of it kung magbaha diha and maglakaw rang mga tawo diha,” the councilor said.

Meanwhile, Guardo said the CBRT management has already applied for the required working and excavation permits for the street lamps it would finish installing on the 1.5-kilometer portion of Osmen~a Blvd. covered by the Link to Port component.

Earlier, the streetlights earned mostly negative feedback from netizens because they are built in the middle of one lane of the road. This is because that lane would be used as part of the expanded sidewalk, leaving only a lane in both directions for vehicles.

“Ni-apply na sila sa amoa sa TIC (Technical Infrastructure Committee.They appeared before us…. Ar. Yumi (Espina) was also there and the city engineer, Joel Reston; Assistant City Administrator Mary Rose Lubino; ug naa puy taga-Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFRB); Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission; Office of the Building Office; ug sa kontraktor nga Hunan Bridge Construction Group Company Ltd; and DOTr,” he said.

“When they presented to us the plan for ‘pedestrianization’ it actually conforms, concurs sa ordinance declaring the pedestrianization along the heritage district, including sa atong (Cebu Metropolitican) Cathedral, (Basilica del Sto. Nin~o, Magellan’s Cross, Plaza Sugbo,” Guardo said.

“Nahimo lang ning controversial kay nauna ang pag-install nila sa lampposts before informing the public on the plans of the City Government declaring it to be pedestrianized,” he further said.

Guardo said, they are just waiting for LTFRB’s approval of the CBRT’s Land Public Transportation Route Plan for the eventual traffic rerouting in the area. (CEBU NEWS)