After giving money for study: World Bank keen on funding Bus Rapid Transit

CEBU, Philippines – The World Bank has signified its interest to fund the first ever Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the Philippines to be set up here in Cebu City.

This was relayed in a communication sent to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, through City Planning and Development Coordinating Officer Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete.

World Bank, through the Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) initially shelled out $350,000 grant to finance the BRT study earlier this year.

“We are pleased to let you know that the proposals for conducting the study have been received by the Bank and are currently being evaluated. We look forward to the successful implementation of the study and would be happy to consider financing the project,” according to Mark Woodward, Sustainable Development Leader, Philippines of WB.

WB conducted a two-day mission gathering all concerned agencies that will play an essential role for the realization of the BRT project.

 Included in the objectives is to coordinate all studies conducted by agencies such as the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

“In principle, WB already considered financing the project after the mission as it is consistent with the government’s development plans, the bank’s Country Assistance Strategy for the Philippines and the Bank wide transport policy,” Villarete said.

The city planning officer said that World Bank and its urban transport professionals are already experienced in implementing BRT projects in other countries.

In the mission and coordination conference, WB met with DOTC Undersecretary Aneli Lontoc and Director Ildefonso Patdu as well as officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), ADB supported Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CIDA) and other organizations.

Osmeña is seriously considering the adoption of the BRT calling such system as pro poor and environment friendly.

Today’s transport system Osmeña said is anti poor since laws are protecting the private vehicle owners more than the public utility vehicles, which are used by majority of the population.

In fact he is now wrapping up his trip to Colombia, today where he visited cities of Bogota and Pereira, known to have successfully implemented the BRT in their localities despite being a third world.

Former Bogota Mayor Enrique Peñalosa visited the Cebu twice. The latest was for the WB funded mission to elaborate more on its advantages.

Osmeña wants the BRT to be the initial mode of transportation in the city’s multi billion-South Road Properties (SRP).

Cebu City has been considering for a number of years the implementation of the BRT, but has not been able to secure the necessary funding for initial study.

Mandaue City is supporting the proposal while Talisay City is still bent on having a Light Rail Transit System.

BRT is like a railway, but in this system, buses are used instead of trains.

Once implemented, a system will be put up to also arrest the impact on the public utility jeepneys. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)