Metro Pacific eyes plans on proposed LRT in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Metro Pacific group is monitoring plans to build a light railway transit (LRT) in Cebu as it is looking for other areas outside Manila for possible transportation ventures.

"We are closely monitoring that. We have transportation infrastructure as one of our strengths," said Rodrigo Franco, president of Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC), in an interview Thursday night at Radisson Blu Cebu. MPTDC is the tollways arm of listed infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

Light Rail Manila Corp., the consortium of Ayala Corp., MPIC and the Macquarie group, won the concession to rehabilitate the 20 stations and train cars of LRT-1 in Manila in 18 months and extend the line from Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite.

Franco said MPIC's experience in LRT development can be brought to Cebu.

"We would like to participate in the project [if possible]," he said.

The official said Cebu really needs to develop more mass transport modes like an LRT amid its continued economic growth. 

Earlier, the Department of Finance said a Cebu railway project is among the 13 railway projects being developed now by Department of Transportation.

According to DOF, the Cebu railway project will have five lines. Based on previous reports, the DOTr detailed a 25-kilometer Cebu rail project costing P98 billion, including right of way.

The Duterte administration has lined up 64 big-ticket projects which range from major road networks, railway systems and bus rapid transit systems to airport and seaport modernization – either for implementation or in the pipeline – as part of its massive infrastructure program.

Cebu is in dire need of quality, fast and reliable mass transit systems to decongest its main roads where traffic is getting worse due to the increasing car volume.

Cebu's low quality and unreliable mass transport, the jeepneys, has not been able to keep up with the demands of Cebu's rising economic and increasing population.

The increasing volume of vehicles plying inadequate roads and highways in the metropolis has contributed to the traffic woes

In addition, Franco said MPTDC is open to the possibility of undertaking the proposed Cebu-Bohol bridge, as he described Cebu as the company's key expansion area outside Luzon given its economic development.

"If we find it viable of course we would like to participate in project like that," he said.

"We are very open to a few more bridge projects," the top company official said. "We're always looking at bridge projects."

He said the MPTDC has not done any study on the Cebu-Bohol bridge yet.

"That really needs a technical study," he said.

When asked whether MPTDC is also eyeing toll road projects in Cebu, Franco said the company is "studying a few more."

"We think that's possible (toll road projects)," the official said, adding that the  company is looking at toll projects within the city that could go as far as the south area of Cebu and Mactan airport.

"We want to study that," he said.

Franco also said that Cebu is deemed an expansion area for the company's tollways business given its continued economic development and potential with its healthy car ownership profile.

Shares of MPIC were trading at P6.91 apiece on the Philippine Stock Exchange in morning yesterday. (FREEMAN)