BRT not applicable here

The proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) system is not applicable to Cebu City’s narrow streets. It also requires costly infrastructure. The most cost-effective, short-term intra-city mass transport system is the use of electric or diesel airconditioned buses with a seating capacity of 60 persons (equivalent to four 15-seater jeepneys that are to be phased-out). This is what the city of London and some cities in China are doing to provide an affordable and comfortable mass transport system for city commuters.

The budget for the BRT system is more than enough to acquire these buses at the shortest possible time. The advantage of this system is its flexibility to change the bus routes and add more units when the need arises.

This is what Cebu City needs right now as a short-term solution before a monorail or light rain transit (LRT) system will come in, six or eight years from now. I hope the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will consider this alternative and cheaper solution.

The needs of the riding public should be the primary and ultimate concern of our transportation agencies.--Virgilio Rodriguez

Blame game

A letter published by SunStar Cebu says, “parents are the biggest contributing factor to drug problem.” Is there no one else to blame?

To me the biggest blame should be heaped on our politicians for not making proper laws to protect the people’s interests. For example, many unruly children come from homes with single parents where financing is always short and children don’t have proper supervision.

If you want to be a parent, plan ahead how to supervise the child until he or she is an adult. Do not conceive children because it is the “in” thing.

The couple must agree to bear children and the responsibility also need to be shared. If this could be acheived there whoul be less street children and better living standards for all to enjoy.--Alfredo Acopan