Tomas to report BRT delay to World Bank

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said Cebu Bus Rapid Transit’s delayed implementation violates the bilateral agreement the country signed with the grantors of the loan that is helping finance the P16-billion project.

He now plans to send a letter to the World Bank explaining why the project’s implementation has dragged on.

The move comes after the Commission on Audit noted that the delay has cost the national government over P14 million in commitment fees from 2015 to 2017 and P2.9 million in administrative costs.

Osmeña also again blamed Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino for allegedly orchestrating the delay at the Department of Transportation, the agency tasked to implement the project.

But instead of pressing charges against DOTr officials who, according to COA, were responsible for the delay, Osmeña will up the ante.

“I’ll just make sumbong to the World Bank and to the French (that) there’s a move to violate a bilateral agreement. And I’m not lying,” he said.

“We’re going to go to the World Bank to say that the Philippines is not respecting a bilateral agreement. That’s going to be a very serious point. They think they can do that (delaying the project)? They can. But the repercussions will be, whenever they ask assistance from the World Bank, they will have to answer for this one,” he added.

To implement the BRT, the Philippine government in 2015 entered into loan agreement with Agence Francaise Development and World Bank through International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Clean Technology Fund, and Credit Facility Agreement.

Under the agreement, the Philippine government availed of a loan amounting to $198.5 million to helped fund the project. The government would shoulder an additional $30 million.

According to the project’s timeline, the BRT is targeted to be completed by 2021. Until now, however, officials have yet to secure the lots and road right of way for the project.

“The Department of Transportation, they know about it. The truth is, they want to play politics. Let them answer to the people of Cebu. But I said before and I will say it again that Dino will accomplish nothing but make the president look bad. Nisakay siya sa goodwill sa president,” the mayor said.

He said Dino is causing millions of pesos in government funds for blocking the project and pursuing the Light Rail Transit that reportedly costs P150 billion.

Osmeña said the future of Cebu City, especially its people who will benefit from the BRT, is at stake, adding that project went through all the processes required before it was approved.

He also warned that the government would incur millions more in losses if the BRT is cancelled because commitment fees, which increase every year, will still be collected.

“The people should know that (Dino’s) agenda is either personal financial gain or politics or all of the above,” Osmeña said.

Asked if Dino should just resign, he said the move to call for Dino’s resignation should come from the people. Otherwise, people would brand it as a political move if he did it.

Savings, not losses

Dino, for his part, admitted that he has been against the BRT project right from the start but that is because, according to him, the project will not solve Cebu City’s traffic problem.

In a press statement sent to The FREEMAN, Dino said the BRT, which will run from Bulacao to Talamban, will only worsen traffic congestions because the city has narrow roads.

“By stopping BRT, the government will save billions of pesos, not just millions. A delay in the implementation is a bitter pill to swallow in order to save Cebu City from an impending traffic crisis,” he said.

“Let's put it this way, I'm going to be the one who will save Cebu billions of pesos and save Cebu from a total disaster.  I cannot allow him (Mayor Osmena) to continue to destroy Cebu,” he added.

Dino also claimed that there are local and foreign experts who are all in unison that the BRT will not solve the traffic gridlock experienced every day.

“My office is closely working with DOTr in coming up with an effective mass transportation system that will benefit not just Cebu City but the entire province,” he said.

“I am one with the Cebuanos in their quest to solve the traffic problem that has worsened through the years because of neglect and incompetence by local leaders who don't believe in planning. I am also a daily commuter. I know how it feels to get stuck in traffic,” he continued. — /JMD (FREEMAN)