No wonder the CEBU CITY MAYOR RAMA was able to gain adherents from, say, the mountain barangays where his infrastructure projects are visible and in Cebu City. No wonder, too, that the mayor, who looked lonely after he bolted from the BOPK early in his term, has looked formidable as a candidate because of the perception that he was able to deliver the services that his predecessor, Osmeña, failed to attend to because of his obsession with the South Road Properties. Rama repaved numerous roads, got Osmena Blvd walkways all widened and recemented, and built numerous parks which the city desparately needs.

Friday, November 29, 2013

SRP: flunker? Cebu's Osmena problem?

inquirer photo

But here comes the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) giving an “unsatisfactory” rating on the Cebu City Government's South Road Properties (SRP) and Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) projects.

It must be painful for someone like Osmena who treats these projects as his “babies.”

Yasuhiro Kawabata of Sanshu Engineering Consultant, which Jica tapped to evaluate the projects, gave an overall rating of "D" for “unsatisfactory,” for the two projects’ “low” effectiveness and impact.

That’s stunted growth, probably the result of an overprotective father.

***

Kawabata noted that only a portion of the 300-hectare SRP has been developed about 18 years after it was implemented.

“Thus, the achievement of the project’s objectives is at an extremely limited level compared with the original plan,” he said.

He didn’t even mention the multi-billion-peso burden for the city government in paying
up the SRP loan.

***

SRP manager Roberto Varquez said the city is only using 40 percent of the total SRP at present. If City Hall approves the plan of SM Prime Holdings Inc. to buy 26.3 hectares more for P5.8 billion, it would mean utilizing an additional 20 percent of SRP, he said.

He said Kawabata’s report emphasizes the need for the city to sell the SRP. “If the city can sell the lots, we will maximize use of the SRP. That way, Jica's report will be better,” he said.

But first you need the consent of the city council.

To paraphrase the title of a Leonardo DiCaprio movie, sell it if you can.  Read the complete Cebu Sunstar article here
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/2013/11/30/barrita-srp-flunker-316358
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