Garganera: I’m not delaying passage of BRT ordinance
“I’m not delaying the passage of the ordinance. Just give me a week,” said Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera.
Garganera was accused of delaying the proposed ordinance finalizing the list of establishments and property owners affected by the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
In the August 8 regular session, the proposed measure should have been subjected for final deliberation. But Garganera laid it on the table, which means an indefinite deferment.
“I’m summing up naman sa mga complaints. Na-resolve naman ang ubang concerns,” Garganera said.
If he will not resolve the lot acquisition issues, Garganera believed that the implementation of the project will be stalled again in the future because of legitimate concerns of lot owners.
He welcomed the move of Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee of National Economic and Development Authority which approve the P5.69 billion additional budget for the lot acquisition of the BRT project.
Garganera said he will try to iron out all concerns regarding the lot acquisition within the week.
Among the concerns of the property owners include the following: measurement of the property affected; names not included, different name but the same property, among others.
For his part, Garganera admitted that he has reservations on the issue of lot acquisition, saying that the whole one kilometer of Escario Street and the whole stretch of Banilad to Talamban corridor should be widened.
“Ang Escario and Ban-Tal man gud, four lanes ra gyud na. I hope, if puwede, pun-an og two more lanes kay BRT is designed for dedicated lanes. Ma-defeat ang purpose if dili siya moagi og dedicated lane,” he said.
Garganera also pointed out the construction of underpass along Natalio Bacalso Avenue which is one of the avenues where the BRT will pass through. He believed that BRT should not be mixed with public vehicles.
He said he will discuss all his concerns with BRT-Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Head Atty. Rafael Christopher Yap.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, for his part, said Yap’s office should assist Garganera in identifying all property owners so that the ordinance will be passed as soon as possible.
“I think the PIU should make more expeditious and accurate counting of the property owners who will be affected so that Councilor Garganera will incorporate them in the proposed ordinance,” Labella said.
Labella added the law for the lot acquisition should be followed.
If Garganera will not propose the measure this month, Councilor SisinioAndales said he will take the cudgel in proposing similar ordinance to fast track the implementation of the BRT project which is seen to address traffic congestion in the city.
But, Labella said Garganera should withdraw his proposal before another councilor will introduce similar ordinance.
While the city has not passed an ordinance,Yap said the office will send this week the second batch of Notice of Taking with Final Offer for property owners affected by the project.
The first batch amounting to over P300 million was served last week in the wake of reports that the project will be stalled.
Yap said his office has not received communication from Department of Transportation to stall the implementation of the BRT project.