‘Greenbelt’ eyed for Oro’s downtown area

TO help decongest traffic in Cagayan de Oro City’s downtown area, ‘elevated walkways’ that would encourage commuters to walk to their destination should be set up, an administration councilor said.

During Monday afternoon’s City Council session, Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya cited a proposal by the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) to install elevated walkways that would connect four malls and other establishments in the city’s downtown area. A joint committee hearing was previously held on the project, he said.

Councilor Nacaya said the proposal takes inspiration from the ‘Greenbelt’, a 2.8-hectare garden set in Ayala Mall in Makati City. Nacaya, who chairs the council’s planning, research, and development committee, said such an undertaking would involve discussions with mall operators and business owners in the downtown commercial area.

“If we are in agreement (in pursuing this project) that would connect the malls and other establishments that will form part of this ‘Greenbelt’….then we should incorporate this project in our annual investment plan (AIP), our city development plan and even in our budgeting for 2024…even if we implement the project in bits and phases,” Nacaya said.

Traffic congestion in Cagayan de Oro City’s downtown area which also covers one state university, is bogged down further by delays in road construction projects under the national government.

Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez said the elevated walkways are also similar to walkways in the US which provide shade to pedestrians heading to their offices and schools.

Councilor Malvern Esparcia, who chairs the City Council committee on climate change adaptation, showed support for the project saying this will help encourage commuters to walk instead of using public transport to head to their favorite malls and offices.

“Switching to walking will help reduce noise and smoke emissions and promote green spaces,” Esparcia said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)