Infrastructure & Traffic Summit by SCMAP Visayas
By John Chin of LF Logistics
Going deeper on the efforts and possible solutions in addressing the Visayas Traffic, the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines’ (SCMAP’s) Visayas Chapter held the Infrastructure and Traffic Summit on September 15, 2017 at the Bayfront Hotel, Mandaue City.
The well-attended event was filled with a highly competent and reliable set of resource speakers from the industry includingEngr. Fortunato Sanchez (Chair of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board), Director Ador G. Canlas (Director of DPWH Region VII), Engr. Allan Alfon (President and General Manager of Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation, spearheading the construction of the Cebu-Mactan 3rd Bridge), Doctor Rodien Paca (Successful Supply Chain and Port Management Entrepreneur), Ar. Jensen Racho (Past President and Past District Director of the United Architects of the Philippines Environment Planner), Atty. Ismael GaraygayIII (Head of the Cebu City Transportation Office),Mr. Philip Tan (Private Sector Representative of the Zoning and Appeals Board), andAtty.Rafael Christopher Yap (Project Manager of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project).
Engr. Sanchez highlighted that most of the infrastructure problems we suffer from today are due to the lack of planning and prioritization. As a result of this failure of engineering, he suggests to pursue the establishment of the Metropolitan Cebu Development Authority to institutionalize planning and provide for better results in the coming years.
Speaking after Engr. Sanchez was Director Canlas, sharing to the group the Build Build Buildprogram of the current administration, enumerating a number of promising projects in the region to address the issue of connectivity in this inter-island landscape in Visayas. He discussed ongoing projects like the N. Bacalso Underpass, and also other projects underway including diversion roads, bridges, and many more, hoping to achieve traffic decongestion and a more livable, sustainable, &resilient community in Region VII.
Engr. Alfoncapped the morning session by sharing details on their CCLEX Project, providing a direct link between the City of Cebu and Cordova. He also revealed the toll-bridge to charge “a similar rate with the Luzon tollways” which would probably be at around P80 for the 8.5 kilometer expressway. Promising as it is, both the convenience and the aesthetics of the facility would be something to look forward to in the future.
In the afternoon session, port management and planning was then discussed by Dr. Paca. He presented the steps and factors considered in making a study for the port. He further explained that double handling and port congestion are the primary drivers of the problems in the port. “The port is the barometer of a city’s economy” Dr. Paca said, while emphasizing the need for more ports and more ships cater the growing demand the Cebu Province Network.
An insightful analysis of the Cebu traffic situation was shared by Ar. Racho, as he presented numerous solutions to traffic. Some of the suggestions he mentioned was the use of flared intersections in road construction, superblock model in urban development, and mass transport system.
The problems and solutions elaborated was then supported by the next speaker, Atty. Garaygay III, sharing the EEE (Enforcement, Engineering, Education) Framework, as important aspects of constructing and implementing an effective traffic management plan.
A passionate discussion of the new Mandaue City Zoning Ordinance was then presented by Mr. Philip Tan, sharing the vision of the ordinance, and the critical points that each establishment should take note of. He expressed how this ordinance would be a step into transforming Mandaue into a cultural and social city with appropriate facilities.
“Either we bite the bullet today, or wala jud mahitabo” (Either we bite the bullet today, or nothing will happen) Mr. Tan said.
The last speaker was Atty. Yap, then went on to discuss the awaited Bus Rapit Transit (BRT) Project in Cebu, and enlightened the participants with the primary points how BRT as a public transport is an effective solution to traffic congestion. In the same light, he agreed to Mr. Tan’s perspective on development, saying “If it is difficult to implement now, it is way more difficult in the future.”
The conference was also attended by Mr. Ricardo Mendoza (representing Michael Dino from the Office of the Presidential Assistant of Visayas) and Mr. Henrik Bastallones, the Marketing and Communications Executive of SCMAP.
Gilbert Cabataña, president of SCMAP Visayas, ended the event with a subtle reminder that “Decisions, supported by correct information is very powerful”. He expressed the relevance and importance of everything that has been shared, hoping that this information be usedto further resolve the problems involving infrastructure and traffic.
