Terrible Mandaue traffic

For several months now many people using the roads in Mandaue City have complained of  worsening traffic caused by  simultaneous road projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Even the business community has given up on complaining, saying that the Mandaue city government is helpless  and can’t do much because the repairs are needed by the city.

There is no question that the projects would, in the end, improve traffic flow  but the simultaneous road projects have made traffic congestion terrible.  The problem highlights the need for national agencies like DPWH to coordinate with the local government, whose residents are directly affected, something   Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama has long emphasized.

In Cebu City, the local government is  pro-active about this like the situation in V. Rama Avenue, where the mayor demanded that the contractor’s heavy equipment should not be left in the middle of the road or obstruct traffic. He always gives  a timeline for the contractor to finish the project.

Local authorities can always help in controlling vehicle traffic in the area.

The Local Autonomy Code gives importance to the role of LGUs in projects implemented by  national agencies. This was brought about by the bitter experience wherein congressmen would push  for projects sometimes without the knowledge of the LGU, causing duplication  and other problems.

The rainy season may even further delay ongoing road projects.

I hope local authorities like Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes assert their right on behalf of the people and commuters to control and manage  projects implemented by the DPWH and that congressmen consult and coordinate with the LGU.

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Is there anything wrong with local leaders developing open areas into parks?

Apparently a congressman made fun of this  direction, saying the local government chief  is so fond of  parks “atoa siyang tagaan sa masipang park-park.”

I couldn’t understand that congressman. I think his comment just shows his shortsightedness.
I had the opportunity to ask Marc Canton,  lead convenor of the Movement for Livable Cebu, about it. Canton highlighted the importance of parks to the lives of people and the community. He said that around the world, one can see examples like Central Park in New York.