By John Rey Saavedra/PNA
CEBU CITY — The Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 (Central Visayas) is pushing for the early completion of “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure projects in Cebu province, its chairperson, businessman Glen Soco, said.
Soco said during the weekly 888 Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel on Tuesday that his committee has been working closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 to hasten several infrastructure projects.
These projects, he said, are sought to solve Metro Cebu’s traffic.
Soco mentioned the PHP30-billion Metro Cebu Expressway that will traverse the mountain corridors from the cities of Carcar to Danao.
He said DPWH-7 was only able to push for a total of PHP600-million budget for the Expressway, out of the total PHP30 billion needed for its completion.
The chairperson of the infrastructure sub-body of the RDC-7 warned that the project cost may continue to rise each year due to issues on acquiring properties for the right of way (ROW).
“So, we are pushing for the DPWH-7 to hasten the completion of the Expressway because that is a road network that will help decongest the city streets,” Soco said.
Other projects Soco mentioned during the forum were the PHP25.5-billion Mandaue-Consolacion-Liloan Bypass Road and the PHP15.5-billion Talisay-Minglanilla-Naga Coastal Bypass Road.
“The Mandaue to Liloan bypass road needs to be harmonized with the coastal road implementation by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency),” he said.
The RDC-7 has also pushed for five more important projects that are part of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.
These are the fourth bridge from mainland Cebu to Mactan island, coastal road, circumferential road, the urban bus rapid transit, and light rail projects.
“We in the Infrastructure Development Committee are monitoring the feasibility study of these projects. Hopefully, the studies will be completed this year,” the chairperson said.
Soco also cited “low hanging fruit” projects, which may be seen completed in the next few years.
He claimed that he had already made representation with DPWH-7 Director Edgar Tabacon in completing the studies on the Guadalupe-Lahug Diversion Road and other geometric improvements that will tend to solve traffic problem in this city.
“We have also recommended to the DOTr (Department of Transportation) the creation of the Metro Cebu Traffic and Transport Council, in lieu of the proposed Metro Cebu Development Authority which measure has not rolled in congress,” he said.
