LRT not part of RDC agenda yet

CEBU, Philippines - Regardless of reports that the issue of the Light Rail Transit proposal will be discussed during the Regional Development Council next month, the National Economic Development Authority has denied this saying that so far, this is not part of the agenda yet.

During a discussion yesterday at the 888 News Forum in Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, NEDA-7 regional director Marlyn Rodriguez said that they still have not received any letter from any local government unit or from the Department of Transportation and Communications requesting that the matter be evaluated during the RDC.

Rodriguez explained that according to the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) Law under Section 10.7, DOTC should be the first one to conduct an initial evaluation which would be forwarded to them after and they too would make an evaluation.

But she said that since DOTC has not requested or started the evaluation, they would also “not go through with any evaluation since they would go through the process.”

According to Rodriguez, they have received a letter from DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza however it is just a letter informing them of the proposal. She said that they were also provided by DOTC with the proposal of the LRT but then to request of endorsement for the RDC.

Rodriguez also said that there is a need for the proper documents in order to go through with the matter for the RDC because it is a prelude to the next level which is for the Investment Coordinating Committee.

Also, she explained that based on the BOT law, DOTC should make the initial evaluation as an agency in which after they become a proponent.

She said that DOTC would adopt the proposal based on their evaluation and if they would endorse it for approval.

So far, Rodriguez said “they have not requested any RDC endorsement in letter, they only said it public. We are not like that. We go through the process. We will just wait.”

Rodriguez said that they have also written to the concerned LGUs but have not received any letter in response for the RDC endorsement. She said that the only letter they received was from Cebu City but it was on their opposition on the proposal of the LRT-MRT project.

“With the objection and without the letter of reply from the LGUs, hindi namin pwede i-table sa RDC.”

Rodriguez explained that according to the rules of RDC, matters to be included during the conference should be discussed and approved in the series of sectoral committee meetings which happen prior to the RDC.

She said that the SECOM meetings are going on this week and after which, if the concerned parties would not be able to send their letters, the issue would not be an agenda for the RDC.

“We will wait for them. But if they would not be able to make it this week, then it would definitely not be discussed.”

She said that the next RDC would still be on March but if it would be approved, it would still be for feasibility study since it goes through a lot of process before it would be implemented.

Rodriguez said that after the feasibility study, it would still need detailed engineering which is still another long process.

During the forum, Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete, city planning and development officer, showed the advantages on why they are fighting for the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit for Cebu City.

He said that one of the biggest factors is on the difference of the cost of the LRT and the BRT wherein over US$40 million would be spent for every kilometer under the proposed LRT, while it would only cost around US$15M per kilometer for the BRT.

Villarete explained on the success of BRTs in other countries not only in giving convenience to the people but also in the economy of the city.

He also assured that they are continually talking with the public utility jeepney owners and drivers in Cebu in order to listen to their concerns on how they would operate if there would be a new transport system like the BRT.

But Villarete said that they are looking for means in order to prevent loss of employment if the BRT would be implemented. – AJ de la Torre/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)