(The Freeman) Updated May 28, 2009 12:00 AM
Locators at the South Road Properties (SRP) cannot just do whatever they wish.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña wants all locators at SRP to follow the city’s design objectives.
Osmeña, in a press conference yesterday, said there are certain considerations that all locators will have to bear in mind to be in consonance with what the city desires for the SRP.
The first large investor of the SRP, Filinvest Land Incorporated (FLI) is set to start construction of their housing and offices project in the next two months.
Osmeña said planners of each locator will have to make sure that their structures will be built considering the factor of an internal transport system.
“The SRPs where one will leave and not to have a need of a car,” he said.
He said the SRP will be user friendly and where one can move around without needing a car therefore traffic is not a problem.
He cited as a mini example, the system that is being used by Plantation Bay Resort in Mactan where one may take a shuttle in going to the beach, spa or gym.
Osmeña said he will make sure that in the SRP there is direct transportation to and from the airport.
“You’ll feel safe riding the shuttle system because SWAT cops are there and that they made sure that the bus arrives and leaves on time, we want to get out from the safety overkill, break out from the image that the country is suffering from Abu Sayyaf, we are safe here in Cebu,” Osmeña said.
Filinvest officials, headed by President Andrew Gotianun and Vice President for Visayas and Mindanao Tristan Las Marias, presented to Osmeña their project plan.
Osmeña said all plans will also have to be approved by City Hall considering that the city is part owner of the project.
Filinvest is pouring in a P25 billion for high end housing and office spaces. The total project cost is estimated to reach P80 billion in 20 years.
The transport system is still being studied by three agencies — World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).
The studies are leaning towards the establishment of a Bus Rapid Transit System patterned after Bogota, Columbia. — Ferliza C. Contratista/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)
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