Friday, January 30, 2009 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Merlinda A. Pedrosa
BACOLOD City Councilor Roberto Rojas said he will ask Mayor Evelio Leonardia to suspend the construction of flyovers along Burgos-Lacson and Ramos-Lacson.
This was after the City Council, led by councilors Rojas, Wilson Gamboa and Catalino Alisbo, held a public hearing at the New Government Center on the proposed flyover projects attended by around 30 businessmen.
Rojas said they heard the sentiments of businessmen on the flyover project, noting that since 2004 when the study was made on the feasibility of a flyover here, the landscape of Bacolod already changed.
He cited that Lacson Street is too small for said project.
Rojas recommended the suspension of the proposal and to look for other areas where the infrastructure could be erected other than Lacson St., saying some city intersections could benefit from the project.
"It should be stopped even though they (project contractor) already started their boring test. It is proper to let them stop to evaluate and study where to put up the two flyovers."
The project is part of the mega bridges for urban and rural development project of President Gloria Arroyo.
Meanwhile, Leonardia said the complaints of several businessmen became an eye-opener for the city, saying that the study was based on findings in 2004. "More developments had happened in Bacolod (since then)."
He said two major developments in the city included an ordinance passed by the City Council declaring that the north terminal must be located between the corner of Pepsi or Circumferential Road or national highway of Lacson and the boundary to Talisay City. The other development was the New Government Center.
Leonardia said these two major developments "changed the complexion of traffic congestion in the city."
"In 2004, these two major developments were not yet ready. For now, the most urgent is in the two areas where a flyover is really needed but it would need more study," Leonardia stressed.
The mayor is still waiting for the official action of the City Council.
He also clarified that the city government is not against the flyover project and is in fact going for it. "But it has to be relevant and responsive to the existing conditions in the city."
