Monorail feasibility study to be submitted to DOTr

The proponent of the P63-billion Metro Cebu Monorail Project is now finalizing the full feasibility study that will be part of the documents to be submitted to the Department of Transportation in July.

Executives of Philtram Transportation Consortium, Inc. yesterday visited Mayor Tomas Osmeña to give updates on the proposed monorail transit.

“Yes, we had a meeting this morning and they will finish their proposal by July. Well, I’m looking forward to evaluating what they had to offer,” Osmeña told reporters.

Osmeña said he is not against any public transportation projects like monorail transit or light rail transit project for as long as the proponents will not move against the Bus Rapid Transit project of the city.

He said Philtram already expressed its support for the BRT project, adding that both monorail and BRT can co-exist as well as the LRT and BRT systems.

The mayor, however, declined to comment if Metro Cebu can have both monorail transit and LRT at the same time considering that both will cater similar ridership.

Osmeña said he is not against the monorail project but he is concerned on the cost of the project since he has been vocal on his stand that the cost of project implementation should not be charged to the passengers.

Philtram public relations officer Cerwin Eviota said that the initial agreement on the fare is at P10 per stop for senior citizens and students. But the fare matrix is yet to be finalized in the full feasibility study.

Eviota said there is also a separate premium rate which is tentatively at P25 with better accommodation and amenities.

“The concept or design, if in a 4-couch train, 1 couch will be for those willing to pay premium (P25 minimum) for a better accommodation and amenities at the station like a cafe that may have meeting rooms, parking privilege, depending on market demand,” he said.

The updated monorail alignment will run from Talisay City through N. Bacalso, V. Rama Avenue, Fuente Osmeña, General Maxilom Avenue, port area, M.J. Cuenco Avenue in Cebu City and SubangdakuWireless junction to Pacific Mall in Mandaue City.

While the alignment for LRT system will start from Talisay City to Cebu City to Mandaue City to Consolacion.

As for the monorail, Philtram commissioned Systra Philippines Inc. to undertake the feasibility study for a mass transport system in Cebu. They are eyeing to submit its unsolicited proposal to DOTr to get the original proponent status for the monorail project in Metro Cebu.

Osmeña said he is not against monorail transit or LRT for as long as they will not move for the cancelation of the BRT project of the city.

The mayor said he will not allow exchanging BRT for any project especially that rail projects will take longer time to be implemented.

“I’m against canceling the BRT. If somebody wants to propose helicopter system, I’m not against that also. Or rocket ship, space shuttle. As long as the BRT is there. Do not disturb what’s already in the pipeline,” he added.—