Villarete: LRT is "not possible now"

CEBU, Philippines – While he has nothing against the proposed Light Railway Transit System of Cebu 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, newly installed general manager of Mactan Cebu International Airport, Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete, said that it is not possible now.

Before his appointment as MCIA general manager, Villarete was the project head of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit System proposed by Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

Gullas insisted that his proposed LRT project and the BRT system of Osmeña can "co-exist" and complement each other.

"It's really not possible at this point in time to have two systems in place," said Villarete, an engineer and transport economist.

In the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday, Villarete asked other engineers whether they don't believe him.

"Complementation can be done if the market is there, if the feasibility is there," Villarete said.

He said that Metro Cebu cities have two million people and it takes another decade to reach the level of mega city where all forms of transport systems are needed.

Villarete said people prefer to take direct flights in the case of air travel, over transferring from one airport to another.

"As much as possible, we plan for people not to be inconvenienced by transfer," he said, adding that with BRT all over Metro Cebu, there is no need for another system in order for people to transfer.

"Intermodal systems are good if you don't have any other way but if it's possible that you have only one system without any transfer, that is the better option," Villarete added.

He reported that they already completed the pre-feasibility study last June, funded by Public Private Infrastructure Assistance Facility and done by World Bank through its consultants.

He said that it has a "very positive feasibility indicator" which prompted both the National Government and the World Bank to continue with the full blown feasibility study and initial preliminary design.

Earlier, Villarete announced that the World Bank already committed USD1 million to start the feasibility study for a BRT system.

The feasibility study will determine the exact project cost, project design, requirements for maintenance, and management and operations, which will include recommendations on the institutional arrangement and proposed loan structuring.

This will also include possible cost sharing between the national government and the local government units concerned.

However, he clarified that the study will not include yet the detailed engineering plans.

If all goes well, the BRT is expected to be fully operational by 2014. It is expected to generate some USD15 million per annum based on the current Public Utility Jeepney rates.

Since it will not need subsidy to continue operating, the USD15 million revenue is reportedly enough to finance the continuous operation of the BRT. (FREEMAN)