LRT study okayed
TOM GETS COUNCIL NOD TO SIGN MOU
The Cebu City Council has authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign a memorandum of understanding with officials of Manilabased Tranzen Group Inc. to conduct a preinvestment study on the proposed Light Rail Transit system in the city.
The resolution, penned by the mayor’s wife, Councilor Margarita Osmeña, was approved on October 24.
Councilor Joel Garganera abstained from the voting, though, saying the approval of the resolution might send a wrong signal that the city is already favoring one proponent to undertake the project.
“I understand that it is not exclusive but from the words ‘unsolicited proposal,’ why do we have to have an MOU if it’s unsolicited proposal?” he said.
Garganera, however, made it clear that he is in favor of conducting feasibility study for the LRT system in the city.
Sought for comment, City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete said the signing of the MOU with Tranzen will happen anytime soon.
“The draft Tranzen MOU approved for signing by the City Council is basically identical in form and substance as the Philtram MOU (for monorail transit), and thus, the former will be treated with the same degree of openness and transparency as the latter,” he told The FREEMAN.
Mayor Osmeña earlier said he was amenable to Tranzen’s proposal to lead the feasibility study for an LRT system in Cebu.
Villarete said the city government is happy that there are several firms wanting to participate in improving the city’s transportation system.
Contrary to Garganera’s statement, Villarete said the city government will welcome all other entities that wish to conduct studies for any projects, be it LRT or MRT, among others.
“The more choices we have, the better. At the end of the day, the one which gives the highest economic benefits for the Cebuanos, especially to the poor and the underserved, should be the one given preference,” Villarete said.
Villarete also said the conduct of the feasibility study does not entail any cost to the city government.
“It has been noted that Metro Cebu is experiencing rapid motorization and an increasing population, leading to the congestion of its transport network, the most congested artery of which is from Talisay, to Cebu City, Mandaue City, and hence, to Consolacion, traversing the Cebu South Road, N. Bacalso, P. Del Rosario, M.J. Cuenco, and the Cebu North Road; necessitating the establishment of a mass transit system along this corridor which is 21 kilometers long, herein proposed as Cebu Light Rail Transit-Line 1,” part of the MOU draft reads.
Under the proposed MOU, among the activities Tranzen will undertake include the preparation of a full-blown feasibility study, and completion of an unsolicited project proposal in accordance with the National Economic Development Authority’s committee, among other laws.
For the project, Tranzen has already forged technical cooperation with Shimizu Corporation, Japan and Oriental Consultants Global (Japan), and local firms to prepare an unsolicited proposal with prior study of LRT.
As for the city government’s part, the city should support and assist the proponent in field survey activities and orderly traffic management; securing data with City Hall offices; assist in consultation; and create technical working groups for the coordination purposes, according to the draft memorandum.
Tranzen Group, which is led by mining magnate Salvador Zamora II, is a wholly owned Filipino company with stakes in various sectors including mining, power, and tourism.