CEBU CITY, Philippines – Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan vowed in his inaugural speech on Thursday, July 7, that six major infrastructure projects would begin construction during his second term as mayor.

“This second term, with an overwhelming fresh mandate and a complete slate of Kaabag City Councilors, we will see the continuation of the programs we initiated, the completion of the projects we started, and the realization of the mega projects we envisioned for the City of Lapu-Lapu,” he said. “Kaabag” refers to the name of his local alliance. 

Chan, a former barangay captain who won his first term as mayor in 2019, detailed these projects in his 10-point agenda which he presented before the city’s new councilors, who all happen to be allies.

The said mega projects include a bridge connecting three island barangays in Olango, a skyway connecting Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway to the Mactan Cebu International Airport, a highway along the coast of Mactan.

Also in the works is a boardwalk near the First Cebu-Mactan Bridge, an open drainage system in Barangay Basak, and a new and improved city hall.

“We will also have the Committee on Transportation review the fares of our tricycles taking into consideration the oil price hike and the interest of the riding public,” Chan said in a mix of English and Cebuano.

Chan also acknowledged the rising traffic in the city and aimed to decongest existing roads through the skyway and coastal highway.

“Wala nay biyahero ang mabiyaan sa iyang flight (No passenger will be left behind for his flight) by simply taking the skyway to avoid the traffic,” he said.

The coastal highway, Chan added, would serve as an alternative route for commuters plying the ML Quezon Highway. 

As for the boardwalk, it would be constructed along the coast of Barangay Pusok and Pajo.

Chan said that the construction of a boardwalk that will be similar to the ones seen in Singapore is a step closer “to making Lapu-Lapu the future little Singapore of the Philippines.”

Chan also wants to build an open drainage system in Barangay Basak that would solve the area’s flooding problem, and upgrade the current city hall to accommodate more residents.

The mayor urged the city councilors to work on the immediate passage of the city’s 2022 annual budget for the implementation of said projects.

Helping Olango

Chan explained that the bridge would help Olango residents cut short their travel time in between barangays and lessen their expenses.

The said bridge would connect Barangay Suba, Sabang, and Pangan-an. 

In June, more than six months after Typhoon Odette, Rappler visited the island of Olango and discovered that many homes have still not recovered.

Gilbert Pagobo, senior vice president of MECO told Rappler in an interview on June 14 that it restored more than 80% of the island’s power supply but only 30% of the entire island was consuming power.

Rappler also found that the island’s main hospital and satellite city hall were not fully functional.

Chan promised in his inaugural speech that there will be “unlimited access to government services for Olangohanons” within the first 100 days of his second term.

“We will make Olango mini-city hall functional through a resolution declaring it an extension of the Lapu-Lapu City Hall,” he said.

The mayor hopes that this will lessen the hassle that Olangohanons go through when they traverse between the mainland and their barangays to avail of government services.

Chan added that all frontline offices and agencies, which include the Police Clearance Unit of the Philippine National Police, will be tasked with setting up a satellite office on the island to better assist residents daily.

Chan also promised the expansion of the New Olango Cemetery and the establishment of desalination plants which will address the island’s water shortage problem.

“Resorts, spas, and other enterprises will soon rise in Olango, given the steady supply of power and soon, water,” he said. – Rappler.com