By Mina Diaz
07/02/2009 [ tribune.net.ph ]
Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane yesterday advised informal settlers in Old Balara, Quezon City against fighting the widening of the Katipunan road that would link the North Luzon Expressway and the South Luzon Tollway, saying the government could save as much as P600 million should the project push through.
“Why fight this project when you are not going to be affected by it. The only ones affected are the rich who play at (the Capitol Hills Golf and Country Club Inc.),” Ebdane told the Old Balara residents who, together with Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, were opposing the project. Defensor used to be the corporate secretary of the Capitol Hills Golf and Country Club Inc.
Ebdane also assured the Old Balara would not be affected by the road widening project. The project covers the Katipunan road from Ramon Magsaysay Avenue on the back side of University of the Philippines to Commonwealth Avenue towards Tandang Sora Ave.
Ebdane said the DPWH would make use of 450 linear meters inside the golf course in order to avoid hitting the residences of the informal settlers.
He added that the portion of the affected golf course rightfully belongs to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
Ebdane thumbed down a proposal by Defensor and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to use a portion of the University of the Philippines to link up the South Luzon Expressway with the North Luzon Expressway. He said the government, should it adopt Defensor’s proposal, would incur some P600 million because it would involve the destruction and rebuilding of two buildings in UP, relocation of 650 squatter families and payment of roads right of way.
Ebdane also noted that the lot to be covered in road widening project still belongs to the MWSS and that Capitol Golf was found to have not been paying MWSS for the use of the property.
Ebdane also brushed aside Defensor’s claims that the DPWH project would hit aquaducts and main water pipes lying under the Hole No. 6 of Capitol Golf and affect the water supply of 8 million residents in Metro Manila.
Ebdane said the pipes are buried 60 meters deep and unless they construct a building over it, they will not be affected.
“There is more done enough cushioning (sic) of soil and rocks to protect the main pipes,” added DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo, who is in charge of the operations of the DPWH projects in Metro Manila.
According to DPWH-NCR Acting Regional Director Edilberto Tayao, C-5 Road Extension Project (SLEX-NLEX-Connection) would involve the widening of 1.1 kilometers of road at a cost of P100 million.
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