French agency offers grant for BRT study

CEBU, Philippines - The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is setting aside USD100,000 for the Estimation of the Green House Gas (GHG) emission that is part of the full feasibility study on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit Project.

The AFD will be working closely with the World Bank which has granted USD1 million for a full blown feasibility study that was started this year.

While the WB is doing most of the work, the AFD will focus on the environmental impact of the BRT system to Cebu especially in estimating a baseline for GHG emissions and the expected reduction of the GHG after the project.

The AFD study will include the estimation of GHG emission savings using the different available tools and methods, the analysis and comparison of methods and results and transfer of knowledge to the National Center for Transportation Studies, University of the Philippines and possibly the Department of Transportation and Communication, the city government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Economics and Development Authority.

The result of the study on the estimation of GHG emission is expected to be used or applied in GHG evaluation for future urban transport projects.

The feasibility study for the BRT will include the determination of the project design, the institutional arrangement for the ownership and identification of social and resettlement issues, among others.

The Australian Agency for International Development has been tapped for the establishment of the institutional arrangement for the ownership of the BRT.

The total project cost is estimated at USD130 million to USD150 million to be sourced from Clean Technology Fund Loan, the World Bank, AFD, the Philippine Government and the private sector.

As agreed, the loan will be at the national level with DOTC as the implementing agency.

The Environmental Impact Assessment will be conducted alongside the feasibility study but will be handled by a different set of consultants.

The EIA will be funded by local funds from the national government. DOTC assured that it has enough resources in the 2011 budget of the department. DOTC will transfer the fund to the city government who will be the one to hire the consultants to undertake the EIA.

The construction of the phase 1 of the BRT project is targeted to start by June 2014 to be completed by June 2015. Phase 2 will immediately start after the completion of the phase 1 and is targeted to be completed by 2016. — (FREEMAN)