Cebu City Council rejects LRT

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council yesterday stood up against the proposed Light Railway Transit system for Metro Cebu, saying it has already chose a Bus Rapid Transit as the urban mass transport system in the city.

During yesterday’s session, the council unanimously carried the privilege motion of Vice Mayor Michael Rama because the Department of Transportation and Communication and some other officials allegedly want to implement the LRT without consultation.

“Right now, we do not even know where this LRT would pass,” Rama said, adding that the copies of the resolution would be furnished to the National Economic Development Authority, DOTC and to the Office of the President.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, a lawyer by profession, said the procedure is that the local government units must be consulted before a national project can be implemented in that particular place.

Even Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas acknowledged that the proposed LRT system cannot push through unless it gets the nod of the Cebu City officials. He said the officials of Talisay City and Mandaue City have already given their support to the project.

Former mayor Alvin Garcia criticized the city government officials, particularly Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for rejecting the LRT system and strongly favoring the BRT.

Osmeña earlier said he is afraid that the proposed LRT can be another lamppost scandal and that he believes some government officials are pushing the project because of the “cash benefit” they can derive from it.

City planning and development officer Nigel Paul Villarete said the City Council had already approved a resolution last December 8, 2008 choosing a BRT to serve as the urban mass transport system for the city, especially within the South Road Properties, which is envisioned as a center for economic development in Asia.

Rama had even asked the support of their counterparts in the neighboring cities of Talisay, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu in opposing the proposed LRT.

Transportation experts hired by the World Bank and DOTC have already started conducting an 11-month study on the implementation of the BRT in Cebu City and probably in nearby cities.

Osmeña said he is not totally against the LRT, but said the city will not entertain the discussion on acquiring another mode of transport system pending the outcome of the separate study being conducted by the World Bank and DOTC on BRT system. — Rene U. Borromeo/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)