JICA experts to createMetro Cebu road map

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has sent a team of experts here to create a road map for sustainable urban development for Metro Cebu.

The 19-man study team will draw up detailed action plans based on “Mega Cebu Vision 2050” and formulate priority projects tapping institutions and organizations to make it a reality.

The team headed by Dr. Katsuhide Nagayama launched the study last Monday and presented their plans to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

“We had a kick-off meeting and a courtesy visit to the governor and city mayor. We explained to them our study outline. They had a very positive response about it. It was only a brief meeting as they were busy especially with the typhoon,” said Murooka Naomichi, JICA economic infrastructure department advisor.

The group presented the inception report of their study during yesterday’s 888 News Forum.

Phase one, which will run from November 2013 to March 2014, will identify short-term priority projects which can jump-start the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) initiatives for Mega Cebu Vision 2050.

The second phase of the study will be implemented from April 2014 to February 2015, said Nagayama.

The team hopes to integrate the mid-2020 action plans and the long term (2030 to 2050) action plans or visions of Mega Cebu in this phase.

Nagayama said the study will also have seven sub-road maps.

These are metropolitan competitiveness enhancement, urban structure and land use, urban transport and highway network, water supply and disposal management, solid waste management, smart SRP (South Road Properties) development, and the metropolitan administration.

PRIORITY SECTORS

“We also have four key priority sectors which are the improvement of public transport system, enhancement of road networks, management of solid waste, and management of water,” Nagayama said.

The MCDCB is working closely with JICA in this undetaking, said Gordon Alan “Dondi” Joseph, president of the Cebu Business Club and MCDCB co-chairman.

“Cebu is a preferred destination for investment of Japanese companies. That’s why we have to maximize our potential,” Joseph said.

The JICA officials also said they would employ the four levels of participatory approach for the study.

They said that they will start at the citizens’ level where a home interview survey will be conducted.

Then move to the city or municipality level where JICA’s counterpart team-the MCDCB and 13 member local government units, will be organized to collaborate with the JICA study team.

The third level will be the local academe and professional level where groups working with local experts will be organized to assist the team in its study.

The last level will be the industrial and business sector where seminars and workshops will be conducted in order to disseminate study outputs and jointly identify future business opportunities.