P48-M drainage study to kick off soon for Metro

Consultants will soon be in Cebu to conduct a  study to update a much-needed drainage master plan for Metro Cebu.

This update was given by a representative of the the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 during yesterday’s meeting of Mega Cebu leaders and congressmen at the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) office.

Evelyn Nacario-Castro of RAFI said a Notice to Proceed will soon be issued by DPWH to Woodfields Consultancy Inc., the firm that will undertake the P48.2-million study.

It seeks to update and expand a 1995 drainage master plan, which is limited to Cebu City and parts of the cities of Talisay and Mandaue, so that the entire Metro Cebu  will be covered.

“Identification of actual projects is part of the consultancy study. Although the detailed engineering will be separate, at least, the studies at this level will already be able to identify  where are the priority areas, what are the general projects that need to be implemented,” she added.

The study is expected to take around a year to complete.

Rep.  Luigi Quisumbing  of the 6th district gave updates on his House Bill 5556 proposing the creation of a Metro Cebu Traffic Management Authority, which he siad he with the House committee on transportation and government reorganization.  He said they hope it will be calendared for committee deliberation “hopefully by August”.

Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar said his proposed amendments to the Republc Act 8974 or the Road Right of Way law were sent to the House committee on public works and is awaiting the Senate’s version.

Mayors and other government leaders also signed a Statement of Support for the recommendation and outputs of the roadmap study for sustainable urban development in Metro Cebu prepared by the Japan International Cooperation  Agency (JICA).

This will serve as a blueprint for Metro Cebu’s long-term development until 2050.