EDITORIAL - Del Mar's subway network

A subway system has been proposed in the House of Representatives to solve the worsening traffic problem in Cebu City. North district Representative Raul del Mar introduced House Bill 5141 that seeks to create the Subway Tunnel Transport Network.

Del Mar said "while we look to the Bus Rapid Transit to alleviate the traffic problem in Cebu City in the not so distant future, additional measures need to be done to solve the problem considering Cebu City's expected growth."

While explaining that not just one approach is needed in addressing the city's traffic problem, the veteran lawmaker said since only few residents are affected, subway is more viable.  

Under the bill, the National Economic Development Authority should include the subway tunnel in national infrastructure projects being assisted by World Bank and in the Public Investment Program.

The congressman was right. Even with the BRT, we can always expect the traffic problem to continue. That is because we can always expect the volume of vehicles using the city streets to shoot up.

Given this situation, no amount of road widening can really solve the problem. The problem is that we have just too many vehicles plying our narrow streets, a reality stemmed from the lack of concrete system that controls traffic flow.

Of course, there's really a need to widen the city roads, especially those being used by public utility vehicles. However, that is just a temporary approach unless a system that controls public jeepneys is in place.

Not only can a subway network really ease the traffic problem in the city, it can greatly cut travel time for those involved in trade and commerce as well, thereby pushing further upward the local economy.

Giving the subway network a chance is like adding more weapons in the effort to beat the seemingly never ending traffic woes. That is because we cannot really afford to forever rely on the BRT to solely solve the problem.