City, WB kick off BRT study

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City planners and representatives of the World Bank will hold a kick-off meeting today on the $335,000 feasibility and financing study of the Bus Rapid Transit System.

Cebu City Planning and Development Office head Nigel Paul Villarete said representatives and consultants from WB Private Public Infrastructure Advisory Facility are already in town. The study is expected to last for 11 months.

This study will determine whether Cebu City’s direction towards having a BRT within the city, as well as in Metro Cebu, is generally feasible.

Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña earlier vowed to comply with the policy direction of the national government in coming up with urban transportation that is both economical and environment-friendly.

The city government contended that having a BRT as mass transportation for Cebu City and Metro Cebu will pave way for the reduction of car and vehicle use, the major contributors of air pollution.

In relation to this, Villarete said it will be only after the feasibility study that the city can decide on whether or not it will open its doors for the proposal of First District Representative Eduardo Gullas to have the Light Railway Transit (LRT) System.

Villarete said the mayor finds it unfair for the proponents of LRT, with its implementor Ama Holdings, to rush the project without proper evaluation from the city.

Villarete said Ama Holdings actually presented the project to the city a year ago together with representatives of the Department of Transportation and Communication. However, when the city raised some points of concern, Ama reportedly no longer gave any answer nor made further communication. 

“And then they pressure us to approve something in a week. No. We are not against the project, but we just don’t want the project to be railroaded,” Villarete said.

Contrary to reports yesterday, there has been no communication sent by DOTC and Ama to Osmeña or to his office detailing the answers to their questions.

Villarete said a study is essential since they clearly doubt the traffic-transportation count used by DOTC for LRT as it was made 29 years ago.

“Precisely we have this study now and also the other study by DOTC itself which will be done simultaneously,” Villarete said.

DOTC Roads released a funding of P32 million for a transport study.

Earlier, DOTC presented the LRT project to lawmakers and officials of the project in the province. Endorsements from Talisay City, Cebu City and Mandaue City are needed to channel the project to the Regional Development Council.

Cebu City, however, did not endorse the project. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)