City dad wants more transportation solutions

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City South Representative Edu Rama is asking the Department of Transportation to provide more solutions to the traffic congestion in the city, that aside from the completion of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project.

Rama sent his message across during DOTR’s 2025 budget hearing.

Rama said Cebu City alone now has a population of about 1 million, thus more modes of transportation are needed here. He asked DOTr if there are other mass transport systems in the pipeline.

“We need a basket of solutions for Cebu, the BRT alone is not just the solution… We need more mass transport for Cebu,” Rama said while also emphasizing that something must be done about the narrow roads.

A representative from DOTr said they are actually not only thinking of Cebu City, but the Metropolitan Cebu area.

JICA reportedly had a study with the then Metro Cebu Board that included mass transportation lines, railway lines, and a coastal line. Based on that study, DOTR is looking at the possibility of a subway project in Cebu and it has received some endorsements from various local government units here including Cebu City, but still needs the endorsement of the Cebu Provincial Government to commence the feasibility study.

As for the ongoing BRT, DOTR is looking at completing it in 2027. Meanwhile, there was also no update regarding the Bulacao-Mambaling route of the BRT.

On the issue concerning the terminals fronting the Capitol, DOTR said they remain in constant communication with the Cebu City Government and Cebu Provincial Government for a solution.

Rama said he hopes DOTR can make a timeline and expedite the completion of Package of the BRT 1 as equipment has been idle for several months already and traffic congestion is getting worse.

DOTR Secretary Jaime Bautista reportedly ordered to triple the efforts to address all the concerns raised regarding the BRT. — (FREEMAN)