CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC-7) to review the progress of his administration’s infrastructure flagship projects in the region.
Together with the key members of the RDC-7, the meeting focused on updates and progress concerning the priority projects, including the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
The BRT project is one of the flagship initiatives aimed to improve public transportation in the region.
While the President acknowledged the potential benefits of the project, he emphasized the importance of close coordination between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and local government units (LGUs) to ensure its successful rollout.
One of the highlighted major challenges of the BRT project is the right-of-way acquisition and the relocation of residents affected by the project’s infrastructure developments.
Marcos emphasized the importance of incorporating perspectives of the Local Government Unit (LGUs) into national government planning in order to address these problems.
“It will not succeed if you are not working in close coordination with the local governments. So please keep that in mind,” he said.
Marcos said that LGUs have a better awareness and understanding of local situations and should be actively involved in decision-making.
“Kasi may alam sila na hindi niyo alam. So, that’s the approach that we really should take,” he said.
In order to maintain the BRT project’s timeline, both the DOTr and the Cebu City government committed to secure resettlement locations and expedite right-of-way clearance.
Additionally, RDC-7 members underscored the need for further support from the national government in developing an integrated mass transport system for Metro Cebu and other high-density areas.
The Cebu BRT, one of ten priority infrastructure projects in Central Visayas, is expected to ease traffic congestion and provide a more efficient public transportation system for the growing population in the region.
Aside from the Cebu BRT project, Marcos instructed the DOTr to collaborate closely with LGUs in carrying out other priority transportation and connectivity projects.
Other key projects under discussion are New Cebu International Container Port Project, New Cebu-Mactan (4th) Bridge and Coastal Road Construction Project, Metro Cebu Expressway, Panglao-Tagbilaran Offshore Bridge Connector (PTOBC) Project, Upgrade, Expansion, and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of Bohol-Panglao International Airport, New Dumaguete Airport Development (NDAD) Project, Consolacion-Liloan Bypass Road Project, Siquijor Airport Development Project, and Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Center.
As the highest policy-making and planning body in Region 7, the RDC-7 plays a crucial role in coordinating and advancing regional development efforts for improvement of infrastructure and driving sustainable growth in Central Visayas.
Executive Order No. 82
Marcos signed on Jan. 28 the Executive Order (EO) No. 82 which is to reorganize the composition of the RDCs to include more regional directors from agencies as members of RDCs.
Marcos designated 12 new members, including regional heads of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Energy (DOE), Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Transportation (DOT), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
EO 82 also aims to prioritize programs endorsed by the RDC to speed up the economic and social growth and development in all regions. (MSH/PIA 7 with reports from PCO and PNA)
