CEBU first district Representative Raul Del Mar and Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival bared their plans to solve some issues derailing the economic progress of Mega Cebu in a local candidates forum Monday, April 18.
The Archival, who is running for Cebu City vice mayor in the May 9 elections, pushed for a program called "Assist and Push."
He said the economic problems of Mega Cebu stemmed from the lack of systematic management, which hinders the rapid growth of the city, considering the drastic ecological issues.
He said there must be assistance in every barangay in terms of implementing rules and regulations in order to manage the community well, while individual initiatives must be pushed, particularly in terms of cleanliness and awareness.
As to traffic, Del Mar said more roads "up (flyover) and down (underpass" must be built.
He said he is pushing for the implementation of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) to solve the traffic problem in Cebu.
Archival also introduced during the forum tree planting programs to at least combat the effects of El Nino. He also pushed for the use of solar energy, adding that sodium street lights in Cebu must also be replaced by LED lights to serve energy.
Below are the other commitments of Del Mar and Archival:
Raul Del Mar
* Push for the passage of the Metro Cebu Development Authority bill
* Push for the Freedom of Information Act
* Support the construction of dams recommended in the road map study
* Coordinate with Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board in academe instructions to develop modules to link education with development and governance
* Work to pass a law to cut down transaction times within local government units
* Review the CCTL law to empower DENR as the implementing agency
* Look into the building of a subway system to decongest traffic
* Use flyovers and other methods to mitigate traffic in major intersections
Nestor Archival
* Push for the implementation of existing laws
* Provide a better management of the city's solid waste collection system
* Implement special metering for solar panels
* Implement the ordinance requiring rainwaters cisterns to catch rainfall
* Replace existing street lights to light bulbs to reduce power consumption, install CCTV, install WiFi, routers, monitor air quality
* Implement a Greening Cebu Program that would plant edible plants in public spaces
* Reintroduce ecology subject in all levels of education
* Push for an ordinance to allow SMEs to borrow small loans from the City Government without interest
* Reduce the amount of time it takes to obtain a business permit
* Partner with DENR to plant native trees in upland areas to assist with the recharging of wastes
* Create large multi-purpose water catchment areas to reduce flooding
Only Del Mar and Archival, among other local candidates invited, were able to attend the forum Monday organized by Mega Cebu and held at the RAFI building in Cebu City. (Antoneth Geotoro and Merry Meldred Bardinas, CNU interns/Sunnex)