Osmeña confident Dino couldn’t convince DU30

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is confident that Presidential Assistant for Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino cannot convince President Rodrigo Duterte to cancel his Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project.

"I don't think so (the president will listen). Dino just thinks too highly of himself. Because Duterte, he was a mayor. He knows what it’s like to be a mayor. He knows how hard it gets to approve projects," Osmeña said.

"So, if he (Duterte) really loves Cebu because Cebuanos supported him, I don't know if he will listen to that idiot (Dino)," he added.

Osmeña said Dino has no experience in processing for any projects to be approved.

The mayor said he will let Dino process for the cancellation of the project.

Osmeña believed that Dino is "sabotaging" the whole project.

Dino, in a press statement, said Cebu deserves an efficient and effective mode of transportation, that is the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and not one that can cause even greater traffic congestion like the Cebu City's BRT system.

Dino, through Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Jonji Gonzales, said Dino’s opposition to the BRT project transcends beyond politics.

"PA Dino's mandate is to monitor and advise the President of concerns in the Visayas. It's not political because PA Dino is not a politician but a public servant who's tasked to ensure that the Visayans are best served," Gonzales said.

He said Cebu's last big ticket infra project was 19 years ago – Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

"This is because of the kind of leaders like him who cannot transcend from petty politics. That must change. People first not politics," Gonzales added

The mayor said Dino is "orchestrating" the increasing number of personalities that are objecting to the P16.9 billion BRT project.

Aside from Dino, other personalities who expressed objection on the implementation of the BRT project include “transport expert” Rene Santiago and former Cebu City Mayor Alvin Garcia.

There are also some barangay captains in Cebu City that have expressed their reservation about the implementation of the project.

Osmeña said the city is getting funds for the road-right-of-way acquisition which he believes would address the narrow roads, which was one of the concerns being raised by critics of the project.

If the national government will cancel the BRT, he said Cebu will have nothing since it will take time to implement the proposed light rail transit (LRT).

Osmeña said there are several advantages that BRT have, compared to an LRT.

For one, he said the BRT has meager fare of P8 or P9 per ride, while LRT will cost P80 to P90 per ride.

He said another difference is that the city government can implement rerouting anytime for the BRT, while it needs re-alignment of the rails for the train.

Another difference is that the city can buy spare parts for the buses while the train’s parts are available in international markets. (FREEMAN)