DPWH Regional Director Ador Canlas (center) explains to homeowners and Rep. Raul Del Mar of Cebu City’s north district about the Banilad road widening. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)
Only holders of Transfer Certificate of Titles (TCT) that will be affected by the government’s road widening project will be compensated.
Regional Director Ador Canlas of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said this during a meeting between the agency and landowners affected by the Banilad-Talamban road widening project.
Businessman Bunny Pages earlier offered to drop the guardhouse and a landscaped portion in front of Bright Academy along Gov. Cuenco Ave. so the road widening work in the area can begin.
“We just have to remove our plants,” said Pages who asked Canlas to give them until next week to complete their work.
Pages heads the city’s Banilad-Talamban (Ban-Tal) traffic task force.
DPWH officials already filed expropriation proceedings against roadside property owners who have yet to agree on the use of part of their lots for the road expansion project.
Quoting their amended plan Nonito Paylado, DPWH-7 planning division head, said 136 properties totaling 5,279 square meters will be affected by the road-widening project.
About 10 to 11 property owners were found to be mere holders of free patents.
They would only be compensated for damages incurred on any improvements they’ve made. “We already sent communication to them. If they refuse we will have to proceed with the enforcement of the lien,” he said.
Canlas said they could proceed with processing the payment of compensation to property owners as soon as they allow DPWH entry into their property without having to wait for civil works to commence.
Paylado said the widening project is important to especially make sure that the alignment of the flyover built near Ma. Luisa Village will not be distorted “so traffic flow will be smooth on both sides.”
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