CBRT’S “Link to Port” feature: Businesses say no

CEBU, Philippines — At least four business establishments affected by the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) “Link to the Port” stretch of Osmen?a Blvd. manifested their opposition to the project.

They did so by submitted position papers before the Cebu City Council, as they sought reconsideration on the CBRT component’s civil works.

The Link to Port feature of the CBRT involves the pedestrianization of the portion of the road from the P. del Rosario St. junction to Plaza Independencia, by expanding the sidewalks on both sides, leaving just a lane in each direction for vehicles.

Purita Sih, owner of All Pet Supplies located along Osmeña Blvd., said in her June 20 letter questioned why instead of preserving the area as part of the heritage district, the CBRT is altering it.

“As what I understand, this area is meant to be preserved. Then why are they deciding to alter our roads?” she said.

“DOTR presented their design to make these streets into a one lane per side, making the two-lane streets…into chaos streets. Cebu City is a big city, we even need more accessibility because our City has a lot of vehicles,” she added.

Sih also said they want “effective roads,” not beautified roads.

“We the stakeholders, business owners wish our Cebu City Government to listen to us and help us on this matter. Our future relies on our honorable government officials. Help, please help us all,” she further said in her letter.

Another letter was from the management of MyJoy, which argued that while it understands that change is necessary for development, its “decades of experience” led it to oppose the proposal.

It cited reasons such as the possibility of having the proposed extended sidewalks becoming sleeping quarters of street dwellers or selling areas so that street vendors end up blocking existing storefronts.

“Will the additional tourism brought in through this effort compensate for the loss sales brought about by the foreseen misuse of the additional pedestrian lane?” read part of his letter.

“We would like to reiterate as a business establishment and stakeholder in this initiative that we are not in favor of this move. Instead, we would like to request for this proposal to be further reviewed to ensure that it will have a more meaningful and positive impact that will be truly beneficial to Cebu and the Cebuanos,” it added.

The management of Metro Retails Store Group Inc., whose three stores will be affected by the project, also sought for reconsideration on the Link to Port’s implementation and presented its own alternative proposal.

It said that if the intention of the Cebu City Government is to revitalize the area, it could just improve the current situation by “clearing, developing, cleaning, and maintaining the entire sidewalk in the area.”

“Removal of all the obstructions, such as the ambulant vendors along the sidewalk, redesigning the sidewalk, repairing the pavement of the sidewalk, installing lights on the sidewalk, and monitoring the proper public transportation vehicle stop in the area,” it further said.

The Metro management also said that adopting the proposed project would “worsen the current traffic condition” in the area as well as in the surrounding roads.

Best Buy Mart Inc., on the other hand, said instead of improving traffic and economic activity, the project appears to be going the opposite direction.

“It is not the solution to the problem but will add more injury to our struggling retail sales,” it said.

It its regular session yesterday, the Cebu City referred the letters to the Office of the Ombudsman, CBRT management, and the Office of the Acting Mayor. — /RHM (FREEMAN)