Paz to study BRT terms

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Mayor-elect Paz Radaza would study the terms and conditions of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) before she would endorse it to the city council for approval.

Incumbent mayor and congressman-elect Arturo Radaza has already expressed his support for the BRT, which is also being proposed for Minglanilla town and the cities of Talisay, Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.

Mrs. Radaza also said she wants to know whether the city would be obliged to shell out money for the project.

“Kinahanglan unang tun-an ang maong proposal sa proyekto. Kinahanglan dili kita magdali-dali sa paghukom,” Radaza said.

The Lapu-Lapu City council, through a resolution sponsored by former city councilor Damian Gomez, had adopted a resolution supporting a mass transport system.

The BRT is being eyed for Cebu City as well as Metro Manila. Cebu City’s BRT, which is to be undertaken by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), is projected to cost $4 million per kilometer.

Cebu City Planning and Development Officer Nigel Paul Villarete said the funding to implement the BRT system will come from a national government loan, so the project will be at no cost to the local government.

Cebu City, which conceptualized the BRT project, sought support from four LGUs in February last year, one of the requisites of the loan.     (FREEMAN NEWS)