Amores, who is vying for the vice-mayoral post in the 2022 elections, told SunStar Cebu that he respects the opinion and decision of Chan to do so.
He, however, stressed that the mayor should use his personal money to install such.
“I respect his opinion. I respect his decision provided that the cost for the billboards and tarpaulins will be shouldered by him, not the local government,” said Amores, who was among the eight councilors who voted against the proposed P24.8 billion Lapu-Lapu Expressway (LLEX) project.
Chan, who attended the special session on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, expressed his dismay over the decision of the majority of the City Council to deny the project.
This, as he believed that LLEX is the only solution to the traffic congestion in the city when the time comes that the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway will be operational in the first quarter of 2022.
Among the members of the City Council’s opposition bloc who denied the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the City and the three proponents were Alexander Gestopa, Michael Dignos, Alexander Gestopa Jr., Rodolfo Potot, Flaviano Hiyas Jr., Eduardo Cuizon and Rex Manggubat.
While those to voted in favor of the project were Councilors Janvi dela Serna, Efren Herrera, Nelson Yap, Quennie Ammann and Laika Tampus.
Amores added that they will just answer accordingly on what really is the real score of the proposed LLEX, citing that apart from it being anti-poor, it will only aggravate the traffic in the city.
“Its stretch would be 12 kilometers and they said it would be at no cost to the City, which is totally false. More or less, one-third of the 12 kilometers is owned by the City, particularly the aviation road,” Amores said.
Other issues raised by the majority were the creation of a toll plaza on the aviation road, lack of access road and the one percent share of the city.
Amores, however, clarified that they are not against the project—it is just that it needs to be polished, he said. This was the reason why they planned to defer the JVA for further study since the proponents have agreed with the issues they raised.(MKG)
