There's still hope for the LRT

Mayor Tomas Osmeña hasn’t killed outright – as in finis – the proposal for the mass transit needs of this side of Cebu’s coastal towns. He has limitedly “rejected” is the proposed LRT system for “Metro Cebu” as he prioritizes the BRT.

Strictly refined, “Metro Cebu” encompasses Cebu City and neighbor cities of Talisay, Mandaue, and Lapulapu. A touch of liberality may stretch into Consolacion, Cordova, and Minglanilla, but farther beyond towns have not lost as yet their rustic serenity and vestal rural esse.

With Metro Cebu’s geographical closeness in mileage covered, the population density, and the industrial and commercial development, the BRT will suit to a perfect tee, as envisioned by Osmeña if he opts to expand the BRT beyond Cebu City’s boundaries.

It appears that Hizzoner hasn’t totally closed, but left ajar, the door to the LRT project “until the feasibility study of the BRT will be finished”. Perhaps later – granting that after his Cebu City fiefdom he still would call the shots – he may change his mind, i.e., after the LRT proponents shall have realized the “indispensable” role of Cebu City for the LRT to fructify much later.

Obviously miffed for being uninvited to the first “briefing” by the DOTC last October 17, Mayor Tommy’s initial “criticism” was that the LRT is “anti-poor” for being so costly as to entail costly fare later on; and that the DOTC as “lousy urban planners”.

Moreover, in rejecting the offered second briefing for him and the City Council, Mayor Tommy’s stand can be capsulized, thus: The recommendation proposal set on October 24 “means the money… comes before election time”, hinting overpricing like the lampposts “trickery”; that the NEDA is making a “palusot” or “hanky-panky”; and, that the LRT project could not be accomplished, as he “urged Cebuanos to ask more questions”.

As mentioned in the previous piece, both the BRT for Metro Cebu and the LRT or heavy railroad circuit farther beyond the north and south towns, can co-exist. Definitely, the LRT has to converge in Cebu City whose involvement is indispensable.

Mayor Tommy and the Cebu City leadership are definitely no dunces as to realize the much more costly and more problematic 30-meter wide RRW course and tracks are within the ambit of Cebu City. Necessarily, the population density and the houses and big buildings pose complex problems that inevitably affect the Cebu City officialdom as well.

There’s no doubt that Mayor Tommy knows without the cooperation of Cebu City, the LRT may fail. He also knows that Cebu City can’t afford to slam the door entirely with finality. In fact, it’s consoling, even if couched in strong language, that his rejection is qualified, that is, he might reconsider after the BRT feasibility study shall have been finished some 11 months or so hereafter.

Fully aware of the stellar role of Cebu City with regard to the LRT implementation linkage, Rep. Eddie Gullas, the principal proponent, is saddened by Mayor Osmeña’s reaction, as the last driven nail into the coffin. Indeed, Eddiegul is right that while Cebuanos take umbrage over the concentration of big projects in imperial Manila and Luzon, now could have been a chance for Cebu to be recipient of a hugely-funded project as the LRT.

One hopes that despite the divergence of political stands, or whatever differences, the Cebuano leaders can unite over issues and projects that benefit the Cebuanos. Thus, even when they don’t see eye to eye in other matters, the crucial solution to the worsening mass transport problem is one crucible for them to overcome together in unity.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña and/or the Cebu City officialdom now, or hereafter, can not afford to court the condemnation of history should they unreasonably oppose a worthy project. Let’s just honor their present stand in giving priority to the BRT for Cebu City and Metro Cebu; and, that they’re not dense as to shun and stonewall, and refuse the LRT or hard-ground railroad transport forever.

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