French leader rides jeepney in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - Visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has experienced riding a public utility jeepney in Cebu City yesterday before he was briefed on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

Ayrault, his wife Brigitte and escorts rode three PUJs from Fuente Rotunda circle down to the provincial capitol building where he was welcomed by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and other provincial officials.

BRT project coordinator Rafael Christopher Yap said that Ayrault enjoyed riding the jeepney for the first time.

Yap briefed Ayrault on the $211-million urban transport restructuring project to be partly funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

The AFD is the French government’s development cooperation arm which is interested in extending a soft loan of $50 million to help fund the BRT project scheduled for implementation next year.

Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña, who initiated the project when he was mayor in 2009, was also present at the Capitol.

Branded as TransCebu, the BRT system will be served by a fleet of approximately 180 modern, air-conditioned buses and powered by Euro IV ultra clean diesel engine.

Key features of TransCebu include 15 stations between Bulacao and Ayala that sit in the middle of the road.