Tom may still give ok to LRT

CEBU, Philippines - The proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) System in Metro Cebu can still get an endorsement from Mayor on-leave Tomas Osmeña despite his criticism to the project.

This can be done if the proponents can persuade the mayor that the project is beneficial not only to the rich, but also the poor.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Osmeña admitted that he was not convinced during the presentation of the proposed project the other day.

This is the reason why he lambasted the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as lousy urban planner.

“Naglingkod lang ko didto og usa ka oras naglabad na akong ulo nga naghuna-huna nga mag-agwanta gyud mong tanan, ang mga Sugbuanon gyud ang mubayad og 30 bilyones pesos, I’m not convinced the way they were presenting it,” Osmeña said.

But, still, the mayor is not closing the possibility of supporting the LRT system in Metro Cebu if the proponent can very well explain the feasibility of the project.

DOTC Undersecretary for Railways Guiling Mamondiong is willing to talk with Osmeña to demonstrate the proposed LRT undertaking. They have a meeting set later this week.

The DOTC official acknowledged the importance of Cebu City’s endorsement of the project since, according to him, 95 percent of the users would come from the city.

Osmeña, however, expressed his dismay upon learning the plan of Mamondiong for the reason that during the conceptualization of the project, he was not consulted.

“Unya maminaw pud siya nako, o ako ray maminaw niya? Sa panahon nga ilang gibuhat ang plano, nag-consult sila sa siyudad? Karon, muhatag siya og explanation ang iyang gusto one way, ako ra ang maminaw unya siya dili, hello,” Osmeña retorted.

Osmeña prefers the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) over the LRT and is eager to implement the said mass transport system in the city because it’s 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.

But Mamondiong made an assurance that the proposed BRT and LRT projects will not compete, but instead, complement each other.

It was learned that phase 1 of the proposed LRT project will have 19 stations that covers the cities of Talisay, Cebu and Mandaue.

The 19 stations will include some major streets in Cebu City like Osmeña Boulevard, Escario Street, Gorrordo, and others.

Osmeña said that he can not imagine the traffic congestion it will cause in the major thoroughfares of the city once the LRT will be constructed.

“Kahibawo ka ang pagtukod og LRT will take 3 to 4 years and, of course, they will block the roads for 3 to 4 years while the project is under construction, musiyagit gyud mo kung muagi mo sa Osmeña Boulevard, Escario, ug sa ubang lugar, kay mag-detour, mag-detour na lang ta sa Tuburan oy,” Osmeña jokingly said.

In the previous interview, Osmeña, however, clarified that he can’t block a project that will be implemented by the national government.

Agenda of Meeting

City Planning and Development Coordinating Office (CPDO) head Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete said he was asked by DOTC Undersecretary Railways Guiling Mamondiong to facilitate a meeting which is tentatively this Wednesday or Thursday.

“As requested by DOTC Asec Mamondiong, I am arranging a meeting for them to present the project details especially on those issues that were raised by the Mayor and others I raised as a planner,” Villarete said.

Villarete said Osmeña has reservations on some matter especially its relevance to urban governance and land use issues

He said Osmeña wants DOTC to explain whether the proposed LRT conforms to urban planning strategies of Cebu City.

Second, Villarete said, is to hear DOTC’s side on car use policy and car-carrying capacity of roads vis-a-vis construction methodology and car use reduction issues.

And lastly, Villarete said there has to be an assurance that this initiative does not conflict or block the city’s policy on sustainable urban mobility through an efficient, cost-cost-effective, pro-poor public transportation using the BRT system.

“This assurance has to be in the form of not only a DOTC guarantee but also in reference to their medium-term public investment program,” Villarete said.

DOTC will also have to include BRT in their submission to the Country Investment Program of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) donors.

Part of the assurance would be the direct and indirect financial and economic exposure of the City during project implementation if ever.

He said the indirect financial exposure is very important while these will not appear in the documents, these may affect the future benefits of the Cebuanos.

“For example LRT will mean less economic opportunities for the people, reduction of taxes, rezoning on some areas, lost or forgone opportunities on future economic activities, conflict to urban design or ask the Cebuanos would they like those monstrous LRT platforms to block and tarnish the beautiful view of the grand Osmeña boulevard,” Villarete said.

Cebu City through the city council already approved a resolution choosing the BRT as the urban mass transport system for the city especially within the South Road Properties (SRP), envisioned soon as the center of economic development in Asia.

The City of Mandaue, also through its council, issued a resolution supporting the project.

Lapu-Lapu on the other hand has not made a stand while Talisaynon’s being under the turf of First District Eduardo Gullas is bent on supporting the LRT.

Gullas is the main proponent of the Cebu LRT Bill.

Already three agencies are set to start their respective studies on the BRT, including DOTC’s P32 million local study.

On the other hand, World Bank through the Private Public Infrastructure Agency Fund (WB-PPIAF) is appropriating $375,000 while the Asian Development Bank extended the assistance of $500,000 for the BRT at the SRP.

The BRT is patterned after the system in Bogota, Colombia, who first implemented it successfully under Mayor Enrique Peñalosa. —with Ferliza Contrastista and Mitchelle Palaubsanon/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)