DINO SEEKS SUPPORT FOR CEBU RAIL
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar says the feasibility study for the P50-billion, 74-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway Project is already done
Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino urged the business community of Cebu to support infrastructure program of the government, which includes the multi-billion-peso Metro Cebu Expressway Project.
During his keynote speech before members of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) last Friday, Dino stressed the viability of the Cebu Light Railway Transit (LRT) to decongest traffic and address Cebu’s rapid urbanization, over that of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
“BRT is not the right solution to decongest traffic. With just two points—headway and passenger capacity—it is clear it is not a sustainable solution and will only result in even more traffic congestion,” said Dino.
He noted that the BRT could only accommodate 8,000 passengers per hour at a two-minute headway, the same number of passengers that the existing public utility jeepneys could carry, compared to the LRT’s 11,000 passengers per hour, which could expand to 24,000 passengers per hour at a three-minute headway.
Building an efficient and effective mass transport system is crucial in the growth of business activities here, especially that the chronic traffic congestion has already resulted in income and productivity losses, Dino said.
“Cebu is ready for LRT. It is not that we want it. We need it,” Dino noted.
He cited the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s ( Jica) report that revealed that there would be chokepoints as far as 2025 despite the bridges that will be built in Cebu, if it doesn’t have an effective and efficient mass transport system.
“Manila already has plenty of LRTs. Why deprive Cebu?” said Dino.
Construction of the P50-billion, 74-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway is eyed to begin in the second quarter of 2018. It is aimed at reducing travel time from Naga City to Danao City from three hours to less than one and a half hours.
“We have already completed the feasibility study of the P50-billion Metro Cebu Expressway Project. It will be implemented in three segments,” said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said in a statement.
The undertaking is part of the government’s infrastructure program (“Build! Build! Build!”), which aims to increase the productive capacity of the economy.
Meanwhile, MCCI president Glenn Anthony Soco announced the organization is formalizing legal arrangements for the proposed MCCI Center, which will be created near the Mandaue City Hall. Soco said the Mandaue City government allowed the chamber to use a portion of the land (near the City Hall) to construct MCCI’s own building.