STOP THE CEBU FLYOVERS!

A POSITION PAPER BY THE USC-COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND FINE ARTS

BY THE FACULTY, STUDENTS AND STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND FINE ARTS AND THE GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR URBAN DESIGN It is a reality that street crime, visible poverty, deteriorating infrastructure, informal settlers and blighted neighborhoods are becoming increasingly common in our urban setting. But we have probably become so callous to the situation that we fail to recognize this dangerous and silent progression that is not being given the attention it deserves. And it has the potential, in the end, to hinder Cebuano societys quest for a decent urban life. Already, there is a steady flow of residents and commercial establishments moving out of the downtown areas toward new developments along the hillsides and in the urban fringes, leaving the inner city blighted. SYMPTOMS OF URBAN DECAY To be able to fully absorb the situation, we only have to observe what is happening in these areas. Cleanliness and sanitation are increasingly a problem, traffic congestion has worsened, criminality is on the rise, flooding, illegal vendors and informal settlers... These are typical symptoms of urban decay. Contributing to this dire situation are government policies which by themselves further exacerbate conditions. The proposed construction of more flyovers in Cebu is a potential problem just about to happen. And it does not take that long to see and feel the results. Some existing flyovers are a testament to the fact that flyovers are not the solution to specific intersections. There is a need to conduct a thorough study and let the results of those studies be the basis for the formulation of specific solutions to particular problems. THE INTANGIBLES

Much has been said against the construction of the flyovers. Among those already mentioned by the movement are the violation of the peoples right to participate, the need for a comprehensive masterplan, increase in vehicular density and air pollution, etc. These are points which speak for themselves and are understandable owing to their tangible nature. We could readily see the need for citizen participation, the worsening traffic or air pollution. But there are the intangibles - factors which are not clear or definite enough to be seen nor felt easily. Many of these factors are related to urban design or the concepts of space. Much of it has to do with the Citys image which is crucial towards acceptability and ownership of the City by the residents themselves. That image must impart a sense of security and livability for the city-dwellers. The classic book, entitled Image of the City, a required reading for urban planners, by Kevin Lynch, theorizes extensively about urban design. In the book, Lynch imparts that the design of cities is a temporal art, very much like the design of buildings or paintings or literature. The difference lies in the scale of the City and the limited control which can be exercised by its planners or administrators. While painters can exercise full control over his work of art, the many factors which influence urban design make it more difficult for planners to control the design of the City. In designing a building or a residence, it is a basic design principle that its plan should be legible and transparent to the user. As one enters the structure, one is able to perceive the spaces within, the circulation is clear, the location of stairs, toilets and other spaces are perceptible. With legibility, a user is able to navigate successfully inside the building. Similarly, cities should be legible and understood by the residents. The streets and views are unobstructed, different areas of the City are perceptible and boundaries between districts are clear. In a legible environment, there is order to things, where people feel a sense of security and the City achieves a sense of place. According to Lynch, the Image of the City can be defined with reference to physical forms conveniently classified to 5 types of elements namely: Paths, Edges, Districts, Nodes and Landmarks. Paths are the channels or the streets where people move. Along these paths, the other environmental elements are arranged and related. Edges are the barriers or boundaries of different areas or districts of the City. Districts are areas with common or shared identifying character. Nodes are strategic points where people can enter or depart. Landmarks are points of reference which may be either man-made or natural.

Coincidentally, in another book by Oscar Newman entitled, Defensible Space, the author contends that natural surveillance is necessary for residents to take control of their environment. Visibility is a prime factor in natural surveillance, where mere visual contact deters intruders and helps prevent crime. This concept may explain the prevalence of crime in visually deprived neighborhoods such as in Barangay Kamagayan in Cebu. The blocked roads and intricate alleys have reduced visibility towards its interior areas and prevented natural surveillance. It is clear that the residents of Kamagayan have lost their ability to come together against criminality which, unabated, has grown increasingly rampant through the years. THE FLYOVERS The proposed flyovers are by themselves not objectionable except for the fact that they may be improperly located and misplaced. As espoused by the movement, the flyovers could benefit from a necessary review through comprehensive planning and urban design. Traditionally, the city can basically be defined by its boundaries which are the downtown area or the inner urban core from the pier up to Sanciangko St., the uptown area up to Mango Ave., the outer urban core up to Escario St. and the urban fringes which used to be up to Lahug. Today, of course the City has grown tremendously. What used to be rural areas (Banilad up to Talamban) in the 1970s are now our new urban fringes. Even so, this traditional urban fabric deserves to be preserved if only to maintain the sense of place which we all know and long to be CEBU! From an urban design perspective, the visual form of the City can emanate from an orderly arrangement of its distinctive elements including Paths (flyovers and streets). By its very nature, flyovers bode well if located at the urban fringes rather than the urban core because of narrower streets, congestion, pollution, and all the tangibles. The reason why opposition to the planned flyovers are more intense than ever today, is precisely because these are now intruding on the urban core a very private space which residents consider sacred. A public image of the City is being maintained by large numbers of the Citys inhabitants which they treasure and protect. With these new flyovers, the traditional sentiments and feelings of Cebuanos are being violated. The boundaries between the inner urban core (downtown), uptown area, outer

urban core and the urban fringe are another defining element to the City identified by Lynch as the Edges. To be able to establish legibility in the City, these edges or boundaries should be inviolable. Flyovers have no place inside the urban core. The City could also do well if Nodes and Landmarks are identified and well-defined. It could further enhance legibility of the urban fabric. Large infrastructures such as flyovers are normally used as Nodes defining entrances or exits to the urban core rather than compete for space inside these areas. THE NEED TO CONNECT Filipinos have a natural penchant to connect. Social interaction and human relations thrive in a traditionally open and free environment. Streets are normally venues for interaction among residents. Barriers and obstructions to this need to connect are not normally acceptable. The flyovers located especially along streets in the urban core impose unwanted barriers to social interaction. Furthermore, the flyovers pose potential risks to safety and security. These huge infrastructures create dark and dingy spaces at night which are difficult to police. Reduced visibility violate the concepts of defensible space and discourage natural surveillance in urban areas which need it most. Such conditions contribute much to the degradation of the urban setting usually commencing a series of reactions from the public. Residents begin to protect and fortify their properties by constructing higher fences, installing security grilles and hiring security guards. What follows is a general fear of the economically disadvantaged and further segregation of society the exact opposite of our need to connect. AN APPEAL There is no better long-term solution than comprehensive physical planning but this could take some time to realize. Meantime, it is incumbent upon our officials to heed this call to Stop The Cebu Flyovers if only to respect the voice of a resurgent and significant portion of the Cebuano community who yearns to participate in planning their future. The opportunity to rise above personal interests is at hand for every right-minded Cebuano to embrace. May we all be enlightened by this experience and have the courage to keep our hearts and minds open whatever the outcome.