Tomas blames Mike for deferment of BRT

CEBU, Philippines - “Inamaw man nang iya. Maayo pa’g moadto siya sa iyang doctor, kalooy,” – lift out quote

Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña blamed the deferment of the P10-Billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Cebu City on Mayor Michael Rama’s failure to properly explain the t project to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

Although President Aquino admitted that the BRT is much cheaper than putting up a Light Rail Transit (LRT), he said something is lacking in the result of the BRT pre-feasibility study which was presented to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board.

The country’s top official had said that there is a need for segregated roads for the buses to minimize the stop and go, but said roads for the buses are still not ready for the implementation of the BRT.

But Rama said he could not be blamed if the president decided to defer the BRT implementation because he and the president have not discussed the matter.

Rama described Osmeña’s statements as stupidi.

“Inamaw man nang iya. Maayo pa’g moadto siya sa iyang doctor, kalooy,” said Rama.

Osmeña is challenging Rama’s reelection bid for mayor in the May 13 local and national elections.

According to Osmeña the implementation of the BRT system in Cebu City and nearby cities will solve the traffic congestion problem. It was Osmeña who initiated the BRT study while he was still the mayor.

President Aquino said the BRT is a cheaper and faster alternative to the LRT, but there is still a need for further study on the project proposal.

The BRT system is successfully implemented in Bogota, Columbia where Osmena and some other city officials visited.

Once the BRT system will be implemented in Cebu City, it will become the first operational BRT project in the Philippines.

The full feasibility study of the project was already completed by World Bank consultants Integrated Transport Planning Ltd last September, which defines the infrastructure, stations, vehicles and operational plan as well as requirements for a city wide Area Traffic Control system and improvements to the urban realm. – (FREEMAN)