Cebu City subway pushed to address traffic, spur growth

Aveteran lawmaker is seeking the construction of a subway in the first congressional district of Cebu City to address the worsening traffic and flooding problem in the city.

Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar proposed the establishment of the Subway Tunnel Transport Network System to address the city's traffic and flooding woes, concerned that the two problems could affect the city's economic growth.

"While we look to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to alleviate the traffic problem in Cebu City in the not too distant future, additional measures need to be done to solve the problem considering the city’s expected growth,” Del Mar said in filing House Bill 5141.

HB 5141 seeks the construction of a tunnel for the mass transit railway system and a second tunnel for a vehicle road system.

Del Mar also proposed that a tunnel for water catchment and waterway to the rivers and sea be established to solve the flooding problem.

His measure tasks the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to include the subway tunnel in the projects under the World Bank-assisted Philippine Transport Infrastructure Development Framework Plan and in the 2011-2016 Public Investment Program (PIP) currently being updated by NEDA.

"The bill also directs the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to be responsible for the construction of the Subway Tunnel Transit Network, including the feasibility and detailed engineering studies and acquisition of sites," he said.

Del Mar also filed a bill urging the DPWH to construct skyways in con- gested areas in the first district of Cebu City.

"Current economic activities in the City of Cebu put in sharp focus the development potentials of the area towards making it a prime growth center and more. This kind of potential and this kind of development, however, give rise to some areas of concern,” he said in filing House Bill 5142.

He said before constructing skyways, the DPWH should first conduct feasibility and engineering studies. The agency shall also be responsible for the acquisition of sites.

"With Cebu City’s projected growth, even the construction and improvement of basic infrastructures such as roads, bridges and flood control facilities in selected areas to alleviate the serious traffic situation now will not be adequate in the near future, given the traffic situation," the former Deputy Speaker said.