‘I can show you political will’
Rama says he needs backing of Apec organizer to mobilize agencies to address city traffic
CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said he will improve the traffic situation in Cebu City in three months or before the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit this year.
But to realize this, Rama said he needs the support of the Apec 2015 National Organizing Council (Apec-NOC) by authorizing him to convene regional representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and officials of the Cebu Provincial Government.
The mayor said he raised the matter with the Apec-NOC when they visited him last Friday.
The delegation, which was headed by Apec-NOC Director General Marciano Paynor Jr., raised to the mayor the city’s traffic situation.
“I told them to put all these people and I will give you the political will. We will improve the traffic in three months time basta we will be one in addressing it. I can guarantee. Put this people on board, make me take the lead and I will give them the political will because this is about the city,” he said in his regular news conference yesterday.
Agencies
In improving the city’s traffic situation, Rama said he needs the DPWH so road widening, road flaring and recovery of sidewalks will be immediately implemented. He said the DPWH has the equipment and contacts with the contractors.
The DENR will have to fasttrack the issuance of earth-balling permits, among others, while the Province will have to allow setbacks in some of its properties in the city so road flaring will be carried out.
These include the Province’s properties in Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug and in Barangay Banilad.
Rama said he also wants the involvement of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Apec is the responsibility of the national and local govern- ment units. These agencies have to be put together. There will definitely be traffic problems if we will not put our acts together,” he said.
The mayor said the City Government cannot solely initiate the conduct of meetings with the concerned stakeholders.
“Di mahimo nga city lang kay kung ipatawag ang DENR, lihay. Ipatawag ang DPWH, wala. You know, there are idiosyncrasies ani, naay peculiarities ani, much less naay ginganlan ug sentivity ani (It can’t be the city alone. If we call the DENR, they avoid us. If we call the DPWH, nothing),” he said.
Hope
On Paynor’s response, Rama said he was told that he will bring up the matter with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, who is the head of the Apec-NOC.
Rama said he is just hoping that his request will be acted immediately.
But, meantime, the mayor said he will be reconvening the task force he formed to address the Banilad-Talamban traffic, among others.