MRT, LRT proponents asked to submit proposal

CEBU, Philippines — The proponents of the monorail project and light rail transit project in Cebu City are asked to submit their pre-investment and business case studies as soon as possible to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) before the Cebu City government submits the documents for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Phase 2.

City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete said the city is planning to ask the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for possible funding of the feasibility study for Cebu BRT Phase 2.

“I will suggest to the mayor that, if none of them can submit an official proposal to the government in six months, then we proceed with Cebu BRT Phase 2,” Villarete told The FREEMAN.

He said the documents for the BRT Phase 2 are ready since last year but the city government deferred the submission to DOTr in consideration of the two pending rail project proposals.

Villarete said Mayor Tomas Osmeña asked him to prepare the documents for the BRT Phase 2 as the P16.3 billion Phase 1 is underway.

Last year, the city government entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Philtram Transportation Consortium Corp. for the monorail project and another MOU with TRANZEN Group Inc. for the LRT project.

“We respectfully ask them not to delay their due diligence, pre-investment and business case studies, and submit as soon as possible.  Ganahan man kaha og train jud, nganong dugay-dugayon man? Cebu BRT Phase 2 has two pre-FS already and is ready for project evaluation,” Villarete said.

“The reason we waited is in consideration of those proposals, giving them a chance, and because a lot of people still want their trains, regardless of the costs and huge subsidies. But I think the Cebuanos cannot wait forever,” he added.

He said the city could not wait for another three or more years for the approval of the pending projects considering that public transportation projects in the country take about 10 years to complete it.

If there is no progress, Villarete said he will propose to Osmeña that the city will submit the BRT Phase 2 documents to DOTr in July this year.

The proposed second phase of BRT will run from Talisay City to Mactan Cebu International Airport via the South Coastal Road to improve the mobility of commuters.  Phase 1 is from Bulacao to Talamban and the city still needs to a metro-wide BRT system.

“Everybody knows Cebu already needs a public transportation system a long time ago,” Villarete said.

If there will be a neighboring city that will oppose the route like the earlier opposition of Talisay City, Villarete said the city will limit the route within the city’s boundaries, the South Road Properties and the North Reclamation Area.

Villarete is confident that the approval of the second phase of BRT will not take long since there are two feasibility studies of two corridors that were completed already.

He said the city government can submit it and ask DOTr to conduct business cases.

Then, the city will go to National Economic and Development Authority for approval and financing in the public investment program. (FREEMAN)