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CEBU CITY, Philipines - Despite the optimism of Cebu provincial officials about the Trans-axial Highway project, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he doesn't believe the project could start within the administration of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
Osmeña said that apart from problems like political instability, the financial crisis and government bureaucracy, Governor Garcia does not know how to approach the project.
He likened the project with the city’s South Road Properties, which was conceived in 1995 but could not start until 1999 due to a number of government requirements. The mayor also cited the problem of funding sources.
“Unless the King of Saudi Arabia will say, ‘Here is the money,’ it won’t happen (in Garcia’s administration),” Osmeña said.
He estimated that the project’s engineering study alone would cost at least P500 million.
“It’s easy to talk... but what have they done (so far)?” the mayor asked.
There was also the problem of groups opposed to the project due to its possible effects on the island’s watersheds.
Osmeña compared the proposed Trans-axial Highway with the existing Trans-central Highway that connects Cebu City to the town of Balamban. He said the Trans-central, which was conceived by the administration of Osmeña's cousin, former governor Emilio Osmeña, took time to start, even if it did not pass through watersheds.
The mayor lauded the former governor, for building the Trans-central Highway without destroying watersheds, using just two bulldozers – one from Cebu City and one from Cebu Province.
Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr., for his part, reiterated his belief that construction of the Trans-axial Highway would start this year.
Sanchez said the project is undergoing evaluation by the Office of the Governor.
The vice governor said the feasibility studies for the project were already underway, and that his office was preparing documents for the international auction of the project.
“The concept is complete, everything is ready,” Sanchez said.
Once initiated, Sanchez said the project would be finished in four to six years.
He assured that all apprehensions about the project’s effects on the environment would be taken care of.
“This is a construction wherein we follow the international highway design manual,” he explained.
He assured that the watersheds would be protected.
