CEBU, Philippines - The proposed light rail transit (LRT) system may be in jeopardy if the project proponent will not get an endorsement from the Cebu City government.
During a presentation at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino yesterday afternoon, Johnny Ramos of AMA Group Holdings Corp., the proponent of the project, admitted that the project will not push through if the city government will not endorse it since 95 percent of the riding public come from the city.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña strongly criticized the project, saying it is being “anti-poor” due to its high fare, which runs counter to his proposed bus rapid transit (BRT).
“It looks anti-poor wherein the urban poor cannot afford it unlike the BRT,” said Osmeña, who is implementing the BRT system in the city.
Osmeña said he is not in favor of the proposed LRT system for Metro Cebu, stressing that LRT does not carry cargoes unlike the BRT.
He instead lambasted the Department of Transportation and Communication as a lousy urban planner.
The mayor then left after presenting his side.
Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, who authored House Bill 310 seeking for the establishment of the LRT system in Cebu, was so disappointed by Osmeña’s criticisms of the project.
Gullas described the LRT as cost-efficient, modern and reliable transport system to cope with the province’s rapid population growth.
Equally disappointed was second district Rep. Pablo Garcia, who said that Osmeña’s opposition to the project is already a “nail in the coffin.”
But Nigel Paul Villarete, Cebu City Planning and Development Officer, said Osmeña has not yet made a categorical statement opposing the project, saying “they are just here (the presentation of the project) to listen and seek clarification.”
In a separate interview, Osmeña said he has yet to evaluate the project and that he is willing to listen during the presentation of the project to him on Wednesday.
He questioned the high cost of the LRT, saying it might affect the city’s future loans for the BRT project, which is also being endorsed by the DOTC.
Guiling Mamondiong, DOTC undersecretary for railways, assured the mayor that the proposed LRT and BRT projects will not compete with each other. He said the projects will instead compliment each other.
Mamondiong explained that the LRT fare is only P15 upon boarding and .50 cents for every kilometer thereafter.
The first phase of the LRT system covers the cities of Talisay, Cebu and Mandaue. This 19-kilometer stretch railway would cost $603million.
Before the project will be implemented, it needs an endorsement from the proponent and the three local government units to the National Economic Development Authority.
When completed, the Cebu Mass Transit System will have about 70 kilometers of rail line from Cebu City to Talisay to the South and from Cebu City to Mandaue City (phase 1), from Talisay to Dalaguete (phase 2) and from Mandaue City to Sogod (phase 3).
Ramos said the phase one of the project will have 19 stations.
These stations are Tabunok, Bulacao, Pardo, Cabreros, C. Padilla, Cebu Institute of Technology, V. Rama Avenue, South Bus Terminal, Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Circle, Capitol, Gorordo Avenue, Ayala Center, J. Luna Street, SM City, North Bus Terminal, Tipolo, Quezon and Super Metro Mandaue.
Sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar, on the other hand, are hopeful that the project will push through.
Mamondiong said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wanted this project implemented before her term ends.
After Osmeña “insulted” DOTC in the presence of Mamondiong, Gullas apologized for the actuations of the mayor.
“I would like to apologize on behalf of my colleagues here for the insult. I don’t think you deserved that. To insult a guest, I don’t think that is a Cebuano way,” Gullas told the DOTC undersecretary.
Osmeña, however, clarified that he can’t block a project that will be implemented by the national government but he expressed apprehensions of the plan.
The mayor foresees that the government will only subsidize the LRT once it is operational.
He said only the rich and middle-class citizens in Cebu can actually benefit the LRT because of its high fare.
He explained that he preferred the BRT because it is much cheaper to operate.
The BRT system works like the train system but uses stairless buses and can go anywhere as long as there are BRT stations.
Osmeña is urging other local officials in Metro Cebu to examine their conscience before accepting the LRT project.
Villarete cited previous studies that LRT will cost $32 million per kilometer while BRT will only cost $5 million to $8 million to set up and maintain it. — /LPM (THE FREEMAN)