Skyways soon in Cebu City?

CEBU, Philippines -  If Cebu City North District Representative Raul del Mar can have his way skyways will soon be constructed in Cebu City to decongest traffic.

House Bill 5142 filed by Del Mar is now pending before the House Committee on Public Works and Highways.

“Current economic activities in the City of Cebu put in sharp focus the development potentials of the area towards making it a prime growth center and more. This kind of potential and this kind of development, however, give rise to some areas of concern,” said Del Mar.

Del Mar said with the city’s projected growth, even the construction and improvement of basic infrastructures such as roads, bridges and flood control facilities in selected areas to alleviate the serious traffic situation now will not be adequate in the near future, given the increasing and widening areas of traffic.

He also took into consideration the common perception that the traffic situation in Cebu City, considering the economic growth trends, population explosion rates and migration factors, will reach a level where skyways must be constructed in congested areas.

His measure directs the Department of Public Works and Highways conduct feasibility and detailed engineering studies and acquisition of sites where skyways can be congested, particularly in congested areas in the North District of Cebu City.

The National Economic and Development Authority is also mandated to endorse the construction of skyways for funding either through a government guarantee Official Development Assistance or private sector participation under a Build-Operate Transfer scheme as a multi-year project.

Del Mar earlier filed a separate bill for the construction of the Subway Tunnel Transit Network in the city.

He filed House Bill 5141 following his proposal to DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson for the construction of a subway system to solve the worsening traffic problem in the city.

Del Mar said while the Bus Rapid Transit is aimed at alleviating the traffic problem in Cebu City in the not too distant future, additional measures need to be done to solve the problem considering City’s expected growth.

He is referring to the Cebu BRT Project designed to provide the city’s residents with a more efficient, reliable, fast, safe and climate-friendly transport system.

The World Bank has approved a $141-million financial package for the development of the BRT which will be made up of a $116-million loan and a $25-million Clean Technology Fund.

The Philippine government, for its part, will provide $87.5 million for the project.

The BRT project is planned to be built from Bulacao to Talamban in Cebu City and is seen to carry 330,000 passengers daily. — /BRP (FREEMAN)