THE proposed flyover project set to be established along P. del Rosario St. would “greatly” affect the foundations of the University of San Carlos (USC) building.
This is what Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, author of the ordinance titled “Cultural Heritage Site Declaration, Protection and Preservation Ordinance of Cebu City,” had to say on the proposed flyover project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
USC earlier released its position paper, opposing the proposed infrastructure project of the DPWH 7.
In a position paper signed by USC president Narciso Cellan, SVD, the university stated that the project will have a “tremendous impact” on its 73-year-old Arthur Dingman Bldg. located in its downtown campus on P. del Rosario St., Cebu City.
Garganera, who is also the chairman of the Council’s urban planning committee, supported the stance of USC.
The university’s Dingman Bldg. was declared by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2010 as an Important Cultural Property.
USC itself was designated as a National Historical Landmark.
Garganera also pointed out that the proposed project may cause conflict with the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
He said the proposed project site of the flyover is one of the proposed BRT stations, and should this push through, it would affect the first phase of the BRT project that runs from the Cebu South Bus Terminal to the Capitol Site.
He said what Cebu City needs is a mass transportation system, wider roads, fewer private cars and a more intelligent traffic system to solve its traffic problem.
3 proposed projects
The DPWH has proposed to construct two flyovers, one along P. del Rosario St. from the junction of Osmeña Blvd. to Leon Kilat St., which woule be 1.1 kilometers long, and another along N. Bacalso Ave. corner V. Rama Ave., which would be 1.2 kilometers long.
An underpass, which will be 915 meters long, will also be constructed at the South Road Properties (SRP) Mambaling corner Cebu South Coastal Road.
The Regional Development Council 7 recently adopted a committee resolution seeking the suspension of the conduct of the P105 million detailed engineering design (DED) study for the proposed flyover projects along N. Bacalso Ave. and P. del Rosario St.
The DED was supposed to be completed by August 2021. (JJL)