Lapu-Lapu mayor cites major accomplishments
LAPU-LAPU CITY – Improvements in traffic management, tourism, economic growth, security and education were among the accomplishments City Mayor Paz Radaza presented in her State of the City Address last week.
Addressing the worsening traffic problem, Radaza announced that the city government will widen existing roads and build new ones, and install more traffic lights in the coming months.
“I hear you. I’ve read your comments on Facebook saying that the absence of our traffic lights is the cause of the worsening traffic congestion… Like you, I also want these matters to be resolved,” she said.
The mayor said that in 2014, the city government asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to install traffic lights. The following year, the city followed up on its request but was told by the DPWH that it had to check if funds are available.
Lapu-Lapu’s traffic lights have not been working for over 10 years now.
“We cannot wait any longer. I have decided to get the funding for the traffic lights from the city’s coffers. We have to sacrifice some City projects for this,” Radaza said.
She said that in a week’s time, traffic lights will be installed in 10 junctions and intersections: First Mactan Bridge, Airport Road, City Hall, Mactan, Datag-Maribago, Marigondon, Humay-Humay, A. Tumulak corner S. Osmeña Road, Basak, and Sangi junction leading to Mactan Air Base.
“In three months time, the traffic lights at the first bridge, City Hall and airport junctions will be functional. While those in the rest of the areas will follow within a period of not more than 8 months,” Radaza said.
In the case of road projects, Radaza said the Ylaya-Pag-ambakan-Marigondon road will soon be completed and the city had secured the approval of DPWH for the widening of Basak Road from the corner of Aviation going to Gaisano Grand Mall. The road-widening will cost at least R100 million.
In the first eight months this year, a total of 123 kilometers of road had been concreted and widened, Radaza reported.
Tourism is an economic mover for the city, which has a number of worldclass hotels and resorts and white sandy beaches, she said.
She noted that Megaworld Corporation and JPark Island and Waterpark Cebu expanded their businesses and properties this year, and that last July, Udenna Development Corporation broke ground for The Emerald, a premier 12.5-hectare world-class resort and casino.
“Soon, we will be the home for the first-ever integrated resort casino outside Luzon,” she said.
The mayor added that construction of the multibillion Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, which will have up to 400 rooms and condominium units, is ongoing. She also said that the Rockwell Group and Taft Properties are interested in investing in the city.
Data showed that since December last year, most of the city’s hotels reported 85 to 90 percent occupancy rate.
In a separate development, Radaza also reported that in just five years since 2012, the city’s revenue collection grew by 53 percent. As it exceeded the business tax target collection for year 2016, the city was awarded by the Bureau of Local Government Finance.
In response to President Duterte’s call to fight criminality and illegal drugs, the city police has been “proactive” in the campaign, said Radaza.
“Since the war has been waged, thousands of persons of interest have voluntarily surrendered to our LapuLapu City Police Authorities,” she said.
In the city’s public schools, the Junior Police was reactivated to reduce the opportunities of crimes.
The city police has reported a 22percent drop in the crime volume in 2016, compared to that in 2015. The average monthly index crime also decreased by 16 percent in 2016.
To help deter and monitor crimes, road accidents and traffic situations, the city purchased at least 48 high-definition closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. This year, 40 more CCTV cameras will be put up, Radaza said.
Because education tops the city’s priority list, Radaza said that in a span of a year, a total of 669 public school classrooms were built and construction of additional 74 classrooms are ongoing.
The city has also hired 75 teachers to augment the division’s teaching force.