Gwen not in favor of another CBRT feasibility study

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is not receptive to the government taking out another loan for an updated feasibility study of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT).

While the governor acknowledged that the previous CBRT feasibility study, which was approved in 2015, is no longer “accurate in terms of data” compared to Cebu City’s current situation, Garcia said conducting another feasibility study would be costly for the government.

“So can we just step back and discuss it? Another feasibility study, utang na sad na ha, that would be conducted again,” Garcia said.

“You know why people, ganahan kaayo, ning agencies nga mo-take out para feasibility (study) kay utang man na, kay dollars man na and millions na ha,” she added.

During the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting on January 30, which was attended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Garcia raised her concerns about the CBRT’s implementation.

“I told the President we already have narrow roads, narrow enough. The data in 2012, 2013, and 2014, which was the basis for the feasibility study, would probably have vastly fewer cars or vehicles than what is the actual situation now. And to think they would have to take away space from these existing vehicles,” Garcia said.

She also questioned how CBRT operations would be managed, including who would run it, who would purchase the buses, and other logistical concerns.

“I said, Mr. President, really I speak out because you were the one who broke ground on this project that was conceived several administrations ago, and I wonder if this would really solve our traffic problems or aggravate them,” she added.

During the meeting, Marcos ordered concerned agencies, such as the Department of Transportation (DOTr), to coordinate with local government units, including Cebu City and Cebu Province.

The governor suggested alternative solutions that she believes could better address Cebu’s worsening traffic.

“Now, is it really important to take out that loan, or perhaps it is time to step back? And given the existing realities right now in Cebu City and the surrounding Metro Cebu situation, perhaps other modes of public mass transport would be more ideal, like, for example, a subway,” Garcia said in an interview with reporters at the Capitol.

Garcia also shared updates on another major infrastructure project in Cebu—the Metro Cebu Expressway—which the Province of Cebu recently took over.

The Capitol partnered with the Spanish firm Acciona for the continuation of the 74-kilometer infrastructure project connecting the northern and southern parts of Cebu.

Experts from Acciona will conduct the feasibility study in coordination with Cebu Provincial Government experts by forming a technical working group to handle detailed engineering.

“That’s how we are doing it, walay gasto sa feasibility, isig tampo sa mga tao. What if we offer this (CBRT) again to the private sector, sila ang mogasto, total duna man nay return of investment, kay ngano? Ang-ang man maglibre-libre tag sakay-sakay diha, mobayad man ta, pero dili ta magbutang og unnecessary cost with unnecessary delays, nga maghulat na pud ta og duha katuig aron mahuman ning feasibility study, nga apil sa atong utang, amounting to, ang feasibility study lang, millions na daan, pildi na ta daan,” Garcia said.

“Feasibility study lang nga dugay mahuman unya in the end moingon nga ay feasible diay, mao na lang gyud diay na. Let’s do it the right way,” the governor added. –/ATO (FREEMAN)