Unresolved complaint?

Marikina City Rep. Bayani Fernando’s proposal to transfer the funds for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Cebu City to the BRT project in Metro Manila was like a double whammy for Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the BRT’s main proponent here. The Department of Transportation (DOTr), allegedly upon the prodding of the mayor’s nemesis Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, has sidelined the Cebu City BRT project.

I think Congressman Fernando’s proposal was without malice because he knows Mayor Tomas. He only wants to be the first to catch the spoils because of DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade’s letter to Congress to put on hold the implementation of the Cebu City BRT project because of the problem of narrow roads. Fernando said the BRT lines on Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (Edsa) and Commonwealth Ave. are now ready for the BRT. FErnando said that the BRT project in Manila has already been approved and funded but it needs additional money so it can be completed.

It’s not only the BRT project in Cebu City that was put on hold. The 12.3-kilometer Metro Manila BRT Line 1 (Quezon Memorial Circle to España Blvd.) worth P4.8 billion and the BRT Metro Manila Line 2 (Central Corridor or Edsa BRT) worth P37.8 billion were also withdrawn.

But Mayor Tomas said he will hold his ground despite efforts to put the BRT project down. He said the funds for the Cebu City BRT project cannot be transferred unless the city government waives it. And he has an ally in Congress. Cebu City North District Rep. Raul Del Mar assured him that there is no pending proposal there to transfer the BRT Cebu funds to Manila. But as to why funding for the BRT projects was withdrawn is something that should concern Osmeña.

The Cebu City BRT project is about to be implemented but because of too much politicking and personal grudges this was held in abeyance using the problem of narrow roads for the BRT routes as reason.

Cebu City needs a mass transport system that would address its humongous traffic. This urgent need should have been the consideration when politicians decided on the matter and not their personal interests. If the road in Talamban is narrow, then perhaps the proponents could divert the BRT route to areas with wider roads. Or smaller buses or mini buses can be used to ply the narrow roads. There are no problems without solutions.

Did the Office of the Ombudsman sleep on the complaint of crusader-taxpayer Cris Saavedra against an official of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA)? Saavedra filed on Jan. 15, 2018 a complaint against Engr. Achilles A. Ponce but it has not been acted since. Saavedra sued Ponce for unexplained wealth, failure to declare his minor children and other properties in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Networth (SALN), and immorality. I was furnished a copy of the complaint against Ponce, who is the OIC of the Engineering section of MCIAA.

Saavedra, in his letter complaint which is also addressed to President Duterte, said that with a monthly salary of P35,000-P40,000, Ponce was able to own several motor vehicles and houses worth millions of pesos and he is living with a woman not his wife.

Perhaps investigators of the anti-graft office are not yet done with their probe or the Deputy Ombudsman didn’t take Saavedra’s complaint seriously. Be that as it may, it would be good to know though if the complaint against Ponce has basis or not.

Happy Independence Day everyone!