Gullas: NEDA chief gives nod to LRT plan in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The director general of the National Economic Development Authority has committed the approval of the Cebu Light Rail Transit System before the agency’s investment coordination committee.

Cebu 1st District Rep. Eduardo Gullas said he got the commitment from NEDA director general Augusto Santos when the latter appeared before them during the budget hearing.

“He gave his commitment to me,” Gullas told The FREEMAN in a telephone interview last night.

Gullas said he is also working for the endorsement of the project from the three local governments of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay.

According to Gullas, the endorsements from the mayors of the three cities including a resolution from the city councils of these LGUs are needed for the project to be implemented.

Gullas said he is confident that he will not be having difficulty in securing the endorsements from Mayors Tomas Osmeña, Jonas Cortes and Socrates Fernandez and their respective city councils.

Although Gullas and Osmeña had been at odds because of the claims of Talisay City in the South Reclamation Project, Gullas said they have agreed to set aside their personal differences and cooperate for the realization of the project.

“We believe that a light rail transport system will greatly solve the worsening traffic situation, help the greater mass of our people, who are poor in their mobility and enhance tremendously the growth, development and progress of Cebu,” Gullas said.

Gullas said that as soon as the endorsements from the three LGUs are ready the project proposal will be submitted for approval by the Regional Development Council chaired by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Gullas said he will personally appear before the RDC to defend the project. He however said he already got the assurance that it will be approved by the RDC next month and will be endorsed to the NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee.

Gullas said that with the commitment of Santos to pass the project before the NEDA-ICC he already consider it as “done.”

In fact, on November 5 the Cebu Railway Project Office will be established already at the Cebu Business Park with the budget of P13.2 million.

The establishment of the CRPO was based on the Executive Order 536 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on May 25, 2006.

The proponent of the project, AMA Group Holdings, Inc., is also scheduled to make a presentation on Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel with the local officials and other stakeholders.

Gullas said that he is confident that in two years time the ground works for the project will already start. Gullas said the president earlier gave her imprimatur to the project.

In fact, it was President Arroyo who ordered the allocation of P100 million for the feasibility study of the light railway project in Cebu and Mindanao.

The result of the feasibility study was already endorsed by NEDA deputy director general Rolando Tumpalan to regional director Marlene Rodriguez.

Gullas said they are just waiting for the endorsements from the local government units.

Gullas authored the Bills for the establishment of the Cebu Light Rail Transit System. He first filed a Bill for the purpose 13 years ago.

House Bill 7479 was filed on July 9, 1996 but was not approved. Gullas refiled the Bill in the 11th and 13th Congress but were not also approved.

The Bill proposed for the operation of the LRT from Talisay City to Mandaue City. It likewise proposed for the ordinary railway from Talisay City to Dalaguete in the south and from Mandaue City to Sogod in the north. — Fred P. Languido/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)