■ SOME CEBU CITY BARANGAY WORKERS UNPAID FOR 6 MONTHS NOW: COUNCILOR

In a privilege speech during the Cebu City Council’s regular session yesterday, Councilor Joel Garganera said that some tanods, barangay health workers, environmental officers, loaders and other personnel have not received their honorarium from the City Government for six months now. The Council appealed to the executive department to speed up the release of the barangay workers’ honoraria. After Garganera’s speech, Councilor Margarita Osmeña said that complaints on the delay of the workers’ honoraria have also reached her office. “This has nothing to do with politics. Some have received it because they complied (with the requirements),” she explained.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday led the signing of the minutes of meetings between the Japan International Cooperation Agency ( Jica) and Metro Cebu Development Coordination Board (MCDCB) for a mass transport master plan study.

Jica was tapped to determine the kind of mass transport system for Cebu because it will be funded by Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds.

Davide said that the minutes of meetings contained items that were agreed upon by Jica and MCDCB, the scope of study, undertaking of parties, outline of the projects, goals, outputs and activities to determine the kind of mass transport system suitable for Metro Cebu from Carcar City to Danao City.

Davide, chairperson of the MCDCB, said that the minutes will be forwarded to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and to the board of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) for approval.

Neda 7 Director Efren Carreon said that the signing of the minutes of meeting was a good starting point.

“Actually this is the way the Official Development Assistance proceeds–signing the minutes of discussion to capture the important components of the study,” said Carreon.

The Neda 7 chief added that the final feasibility study will be presented to the Neda board for final approval and implementation of the project.

“This is the first step towards the preparation of the transport master plan for Metro Cebu,” Carreon said.

Once approved, Jica, together with the Province of Cebu, MCDCB, DOTr, Neda, Department of Public Works and Highways and other stakeholders will start the determination of the mass transport project.

Gordon Alan “Dondi” Joseph, MCDCB executive committee chair for research, program, and organizational development, considered yesterday’s signing of the minutes as historical.

“MCDCB has been working and lobbying for this project for three years now. I think the critical part is the coordination of all the parties concerned. And now, there is one road network master plan that is worked out,” said Joseph.

“What is important for this traffic and transport master plan is to coordinate with the road plan. So, we will have two complimentary studies,” Joseph added.

The MCDCB, which was established in 2011, is composed of private sector representatives, government officials and leaders of 13 local government units (LGUs) including Cebu City and Cebu Province.

The board meets once every quarter. /