The Central Cebu Hillyland and Development Project

In preparation for the turn-over of the Central Visayas Rural Projects (CVRP), Cebu City Component, by the Central Visayas Project Officer under NEDA, the City Government has recommended that this project renamed the Central Cebu Hillyland Development Project (CCHDP). The CVRP is funded a loan agreement with the World Bank.

The CVRP Project was originally conceived to provide a development strategy for Cebu’s rural barangays which had been neglected. With the low state of development in the rural upland areas, the residents have been deprived of decent livelihood. The situationhad been characterized by forest denudation; serious soil erosions; low productivity due to non-availability of both financial and technical support, since agriculture remains the principal means of income.

Significantly enough, the Central Cebu Hillyland Development Project has attracted the attention of the private sector. In view of the progress shown by the project in the hinterlands, particularly on agricultural production, the CCHDP has been able to generate enthusiastic support from the Philippine Business for Social Progress, a nationwide non-government organization. They include San Miguel Corporation; the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.; and, Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation. Also, an active state side supporter is the " Ang Bisaya" of Michigan, U.S.A.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., for instance teamed up with the CCHDP for a joint Barangay Development Project that would involve sixteen (16) upland barangays, as follows:

The project is a community based resources management/beneficiary focused approach with a grant of P1,082,000.00. The project components include:

1. Community organization and mobilization;

2. Social and institutional strengthening;

3. Hillyland agricultural production;

4. Hillyland agricultural credit fund

For its part, the City Administration under the former City Mayor, Hon. Tomas R. Osmena, is deeply involved in development strategies that would provide medium and long term benefits to Cebu City. It may be noted that major development projects with substantial funding requirements undergo several stages before actual implementation. This include the planning stage with feasibility studies; the negotiation stage; and, the documentation process.

Mayor Osmena spent the most part of 1988 – 89 directing these stages, which would hopefully allow implementation of some projects by early 1990. In 1989, through his own initiative, the city Mayor was able to get a deal out of the north reclamation area by putting the City Government in a very advantageous position through the acquisition of an additional 3.9 hectares of prime lots. This would be worth about P120 Million.

In order, therefore, to answer the need for improvement in the urban core, the city has include in its development programs several strategies that would enhance and strengthen the city’s urban frame and function; and, its aesthetics and quality of life. These include the following main components:

1. infrastructure development program;

2. enhancement/promotion of tourism;

3. urban renewal and housing;

4. water generation strategies;

5. environmental enhancement;

6. mass transit system; and,

7. livelihood/employment generation

The city’s infrastructure development program, however, is high priority which include: road and bridges construction and maintenance; and, barangay or farm-to-market roads. These are funded by either the Natonal or Local Government. Some major projects are however, funded by foreign loan assistance such as the World Bank. The Overseas Economic Cooperative Fund of Japan has conducted feasibility studies fora number of major infrastructure projects some of which has been approved under the 15^th and 16^th Yen Loan Package.

There are, however, special projects that the ity government would want to undertake but for lack of available funds, these projects are not immediately undertaken. And, unfortunately enough, these projects have not been included in the list for foreign funding assistance. These projects are:

1. development and preservation of watersheds;

2. a proposed circumferential road;

3. concreting of farm-to-market roads;

4. a series of micro-water reservoirs and catch basins or gabion dams; and,

5. a parks development project

The projects above-mentioned have a high level of socio-economic impact for both the urban and rural areas since their realization would provide the necessary linkages to economic activities with an aggregating positive advantages. These would achieve the following future objectives:

a) Improvement of the city’s road network:

1. provide a direct link to metropolitan road system;

2. provide a by-pass or urban core and ease traffic congestion;

3. provide better access for farm-to-market roads to urban markets;

4. provide the ground work for a mass transit system; and’

5. provide ready access to the port area from neighboring communities

b) Improvement and increase agriculture production;
c) Improve and promote tourism;
d) Improve the city’s environmental and promote ecological balance