Three rides from Bulacao to Talamban

Yesterday, the president of the Philippines graced the groundbreaking of “Package 1” of Phase 1 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City. For perspective, this was merely a 2.8-kilometer section (from the South Bus Terminal to the Capitol) of the 12-km. Phase 1, IT Park to SRP, which was already the cut version of the original 23-kilometer Cebu BRT approved by NEDA in 2012. A mere 2.8 out of 23 kilometers.

As originally explained by former mayor Tomas Osmeña when he first submitted Cebu City’s application to the World Bank for funding, the proposed Cebu BRT intends to bring ordinary working Cebuanos from the residential areas of the north (Talamban and surrounding barangays) to the working places in uptown and downtown Cebu, as well as those from the residential areas of the south (Bulacao and surrounding barangays).

Anybody who has resided in Cebu for some time knows of the throngs of people lining up the streets, fighting and jostling for rides in the morning in going to work, from these areas as well as other areas in the city. The general concept of the Cebu BRT is to serve home-to-work trips in the morning, and back to home in the evening. Firstly, from Bulacao and Talamban, and from other areas in the future. There were originally around seven service plans, reduced to five when approved, and this included one which has a direct service from Bulacao to Talamban.

Unfortunately, this was abruptly and surgically cut short by former Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade in 2018. Of the original 23-km BRT route, his “Basket of Solutions” reduced the BRT to a 12-km BRT route from IT Park to SRP. Instead, they planned “feeder” services to the BRT service, one from Talamban to IT Park, and another from Bulacao to Mambaling.

At first glance, this might just look fine. Except that in real life, the worst inconvenience in transport are not really the rides. What is worse is the waiting and scrambling for rides and having more trips than necessary, with the agony of transfers in between --getting down, running to the next stop, waiting, and scrambling again to board the next trip. Bad enough for two trips (one transfer), it would be torture for three trips (two transfers).

Which is exactly what a Bulacao resident will experience with this setup --Bulacao to Mambaling, Mambaling to IT Park, and IT Park to Talamban, three trips/two transfers, and vice-versa. Worst hit would be Bulacao students studying in USC-Talamban --they have to endure this daily! Twice, including the return trip. And what’s adding insult to injury is knowing fully well that in the original BRT design, there was a direct (single trip) between Bulacao and Talamban and vice-versa!

The really sad part is all of these changes were made with the expressed approval of the Cebu City government. I don’t know if they’re just callous to the possible plight of our fellow Cebuanos from the north and south, especially the students. But by the looks of it, they don’t care. They already attended the groundbreaking without saying anything.