Council to tackle further study of rail transit

CEBU , Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has approved a resolution inviting various agencies for an executive session to discuss the request of the Department of Transportation (DTRr) to conduct a feasibility study on the Metro Cebu Urban Mass Rapid Transit (UMRT) Central Line.

In a letter addressed to Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia and signed by Leonel De Velez, Assistant Secretary for DOTr’s Planning and Project Development, the DOTr requested the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City's endorsement to conduct a feasibility study for the UMRT.

As it was endorsed to the city council, majority floor leader Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera raised a corollary motion to conduct an executive session to discuss the said request first.

Invited to appear in the said executive session are DOTr, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the City Planning Office. The said motion was approved by the city council and the date has been set on July 10, 2024.

On the same letter endorsed to the council, it was cited that in March 2019, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Metro Cebu Development and Coordination Board (MCDCB) completed the Master Plan Study and Institutional Development on Urban Transport System in Metro Cebu.

“The Master Plan identified the UMRT Central Line to serve as the railway-based transport backbone connecting the urban developments of Cebu,” reads part of the letter.

It further mentioned that the project is “consistent” with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-20282 and Build Better More Infrastructure Project of the Marcos Administration, which “intends to develop high-capacity mass transit railway lines in priority urban areas and high-density corridors.”

The DOTr further noted in their letter that should they receive a resolution endorsing the conduct of the project from the Cebu City Council, the DOTr shall “allocate the necessary funds for the feasibility study and commence activities in close collaboration with the LGUs.”