About time for BRT

This is in reaction to the letter of Bethany Quisido "BRT not feasible" published in our issue last April 1. In that letter, the writer states the Bus Rapid Transit is not feasible for three reasons. To quote the piece as published:

"Budgetary Plan - It is costly; it would take more than $64.6 million because of infrastructure and establishments involvements. Plus how many generations have to pay for this loan?

"Geophysical. We don't have enough space. We owe so much on 300-hectare reclamation project. South Road Reclamation Project amounted 12.315 billion yen (roughly P4.65 billion in 1995) and we are still in debt until today...and to address the traffic issue, for me, BRT is not the solution.

"Human Rights. The last, but not the least, this sector got me more concerned, the Public Utility Jeepney drivers; after giving people a more convenient way of transportation – propose BRT especially during rush hours, these sectors are already part of our daily routines and struggles. Nonetheless, for decency, would the government give them another source of income? … We can't just throw them away."

It's about time particularly in Cebu City to have mass transit like the Bus Rapid Transit or such LRT.

1.) Budgetary plan? The national government has already the budget for this implementation of Cebu BRT. The only problem is political will.

2.) Geophysical? I live in Metro Manila since birth until now. Cebu and Cebu City have wider and better roads to be used for the BRT.

3.) Human rights? Manila has more and stronger opposition against mass modernization but political will is so likewise in Cebu.

Ang Cebu huwag puro drawing, action dapat!

Moalboal, Cebu

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