EDITORIAL - Gov’t needs to fast track mass transport project

With the initial inspection of routes and terminals the other day by officials from the government and other stakeholders, has the time come for the realization of the long-awaited mass transport system in Metro Cebu?

Last Saturday, Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Michael Dino and transport officials led by Department of Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade gathered here for the update on the integrated transport system.

Together with representatives from the World Bank, they inspected the site of what will be a common station at the Cebu IT Park and other routes of the Integrated Intermodal Transport System (IITS) that is soon to be implemented.

The IITS that will be implemented in the metro by the Duterte administration will include a monorail, cable cars, and a Bus Rapid Transit system. These projects are part of the “Build, build, build” push of the government.

"We want the people of Cebu to start experiencing the comfort of having an IITS. This is long overdue. The president has instructed us to make sure that the people of Cebu will enjoy the comfort of the IITS," said Tugade.

With this development, Cebuanos hope that this massive undertaking will finally push through. We can’t deny the fact that Cebu, with its unprecedented growth, has long been in need of a modern mass transport system.

That is why the present government really needs to explore all remedies in order to fast track what would be Cebu’s biggest project. Another delay would only mean another blow to the effort to modernize Cebu’s transport system.

The outdated road infrastructure has been the primary reason why many investors are having a hard time considering Cebu as an investment destination. This aside from the fact that the worsening traffic condition has cost the government and private businesses billions.