DPWH-7 official draws support from solons
At least 12 House members, many of them from Cebu, wanted the UN Avenue Depressed Structure in Mandaue City to continue.
In a letter addressed to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Villar, the lawmakers said that it has come to their attention that a certain group in Cebu is exerting efforts to defer and/or even block in the guise of public welfare the implementation of the UN Avenue Depressed Structure as well as the other infrastructure projects in their respective districts.
The legislators also mentioned the efforts allegedly exerted for the removal and replacement of (DPWH)7 Regional Director Ador Canlas.
The 12 signatories include Gerard Anthony "Samsam" Gullas (Cebu First District), Jonas Cortes (Cebu Sixth District), Raul del Mar (Cebu City First District), Rodrigo Abellanosa (Cebu City South District), Aileen Radaza (Cebu Lone District), Wilfredo Caminero (Cebu Second District), Ramon Red Durano (Cebu Fifth District) and Peter John Calderon (Cebu Seventh District), Rene Relampagos (Bohol First District), Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol Second District), Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong (Negros Oriental First District) and Arnulfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental Third District).
The legislators added that they vouch for the integrity and competence of Canlas and for the continuation of DPWH ongoing projects in the region.
"Anything that will improve the sad traffic condition in Cebu, I am definitely in favor. Director Canlas has been doing a good job and we need him the more now with the ongoing various projects for the region," said Cebu Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon, who has not signed the letter as he was in Japan at that time the letter was circulated for signature.
Cebu Third District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia also failed to sign the letter, as she was absent last Tuesday when the letter was circulated for signature, her chief of staff, Ronald Conopio, said.
Garcia did not reply as to whether she supported the content of the letter but Conopio said the congresswoman herself instructed him to coordinate the meeting with the congressmen and Villar.
Glenn Soco, who is the chairman of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council-7, has been vocal in calling the DPWH to defer the underpass project in the absence of a traffic management plan and public hearing among the stakeholders.
"Let us not be too personality-based in the selection of our department officials. If he stays, he stays. We are pushing for changes with the way things are done which is consistent with the message of this new administration," said Soco.
"We would like to maintain our fresh perspective in this particular project that if they proceed in implementing that project without an effective traffic management plan, construction of alternate roads, improvement of other intersections and without proper coordination and consultation with the stakeholders, the project will just create more harm than good," Soco said.
Soco said that a testament of which is the way the N. Bacalso underpass project is handled.
"We feel that we will be made to sacrifice for something which will not solve anything as both road projects will not in any way increase road capacity. And what they have failed to see is the economic cost of the implementation of each project which will tantamount to billions of pesos lost," Soco added.