Davide: No town, city will be left out of development

Gov. Hilario Davide III (CDN FILE PHOTO)

Areas outside Metro Cebu will not be left out of development.

This was the assurance of Gov. Hilario Davide III after the  Provincial Board (PB) on Monday deferred approval of a proposed  Mega Cebu roadmap study after some members  felt excluded from the 13  towns and cities identified in the core metropolis.

“From the very beginning, when I assumed as governor and chairman in Mega Cebu, I have always emphasized, even in my first address before the board, that if there’s going to be any study, other cities and municipalities outside Metro Cebu should be included,” he said in a press conference yesterday.

The Mega Cebu roadmap study for urban development includes cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and extends to Danao City in the north and Carcar City in the south.

READ: JICA experts to create Metro Cebu road map

Gov. Davide sits as chairman of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) president Roberto Aboitiz as co-chairmen. The body was formed three years ago and includes mayors, government agencies and the private sector.

The study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will lay out a roadmap for urban development up to 2050.

“Maybe the Provincial Board  realized that other areas should be included since we are aiming for inclusive growth,” said Davide.

This is why MCDCB early on requested JICA to include in its study the need to update a 1994  comprehensive development plan for Cebu province.

Davide said that JICA committed to follow through with the update.

JICA completed its roadmap study in May this year.  In June, it was presented to the National Economic Development Authority (Neda).

During last Monday’s session, the PB deferred a resolution endorsing, adopting, and supporting the roadmap study until the worried board members are enlightened on their concerns.