Cebu City, DOTC, DPWH sign MOU for BRT project

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government, the Department of Transportation and Communication, and the Department of  Public Works and Highways have entered into a memorandum of understanding for the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit system.

Rama signed the MOU yesterday shortly before he left for the United States, while DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson have signed the agreement in advance.

As stipulated in the MOU, DOTC through BRT-National Program Management Office (BRT-NPMO) and BRT- National Steering Committee (BRT-NSC) are primarily responsible in overseeing the planning and development as well as implementation of the project; and responsible in establishing and administering comprehensive and integrated programs for transportation.

The feasibility and engineering studies; issuance of franchise; BRT bus requirements; and formulation of transport routes and areas of operation will be governed by DOTC.

BRT-NSC is the national body that will coordinate in the formulation, planning, implementation, management, regulation, and monitoring of BRT policies, plans and projects in the country.

DPWH will be providing “technical services for the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and/or operation of infrastructure facilities.”

The city government, which is the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), on the other hand, is responsible for providing adequate communication; transportation facilities; provide comments on the plans, proposals, and feasibility study for BRT; engage with affected sectors and communities particularly addressing the social impact of the project; formulation of ordinances regarding BRT traffic, among others.

“For the successful implementation of the Cebu-BRT system, close coordination and utmost cooperation among DOTC, BRT-NSC, BRT-NPMO, DPWH, CCG, and PIU are necessary,” an excerpt of the MOU read.

Upon the completion of the project, which is scheduled to operate in 2017, a comprehensive operations and maintenance plan for the project are set, such as operations management, incident and emergency management, safety and security, fare collection, revenue protection, customer support and information, infrastructure maintenance and cleaning, to “provide quality service and performance.”

The BRT, a bus system where segregated lanes are made exclusive for the buses, will traverse from Bulacao in the South West to Talamban in the North East corridors using dedicated lanes and feeder routes, provide the crucial and key connections to and from the various points of the BRT stations, operating in mixed traffic.

The mass transport is seen to help ease traffic congestion, provide fast, comfortable and cost-effective mobility and to ease the transportation problem in Cebu City.

This is pursuant to the national strategy of developing urban public transportation systems that are “dependable, coordinated, and environmentally sustainable”.—(FREEMAN)