Metro Cebu thanks Estrada gov't for support in infra program
Balita News Services
CEBU CITY, JUNE 29 (PNA) -- Metro Cebu residents are thankful of
the Estrada government for the continued implementation of
infrastructure development programs.
The area has been able to push the programs, some of which had
been started under the Ramos administration and some new with the budget
coming from the Estrada government.
This despite the fact that Cebu went largely for its native son,
former Cebu Gov. Emilo M.R. Osmena Jr. during the last presidential
election against President Estrada.
This is the reason many of the Cebu local governments are being
run either by Osmena supporters or by those from t he Ramos party.
In Cebu City, the leadership has been provided by suspended
Mayor Alvin B. Garcia who is closely linked with Osmena's group.
So is the governor of the province, Pablo B. Garcia.
In the adjacent city of Mandaue, the mayor, Thaddeus Ouano, is
also linked with the group of the Osmenas.
In Lapulapu city, mayor Ernest Weigel Jr. went for the Lakas
party including the congressman of the 6th congressional district Efren
Herrera whose jurisdiction covers Lapulapu and Mandaue cities.
Through the leadership of Sen. John H. Osmena, brother of Emilio
who is a LAMMP stalwart, President Estrada's presence in the Metro Cebu
area including the province has become visible.
For Sen. Osmena, chairman of the senate committee on finance,
has seen to it that the infrastructure programs for Metro Cebu will be
pursued although a few have been suspended due to one reason or another.
The biggest support extended by the Estrada governmnent to Metro
Cebu is the keeping of the over P2 billion budget for a coastal road
program that will run from Cebu city to the town of Talisay.
While there was a threat to realign the allocation of the funds
intended for this project, a compromise was reached when Metro Cebu
officials agreed to provide more access roads from the reclamation area
to Cebu city.
The coastal road is considered to be vital because the Cebu
city-funded 300-hectare reclamation project is largely dependent on the
embankment outlay that will be taken from that national
government-funded program.
Without the embankment, any reclamation of submerged land would
simply be washed away by the sea current.
Some flyover projects, although reduced in number, are still
being pursued in Cebu city.
The second Mandaue-Mactan bridge costing billions of pesos is
now undergoing finishing touches and will be opened on Aug. 5 this year
under the Estrada government.
The continued assistance extended by the Estrada government to
Metro Cebu's government projects has encouraged many local officials
belonging to other parties to switch to LAMMP, Estrada's party.
The oath-taking is scheduled to be held sometime in August,
sources said.
This, according to some officials, is a way of thanking the
Estrada government for its support to the development of Metro Cebu.
(PNA) jv/mnn/EB/MSS/RE
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