Cobonpue reiterates push for Cebu LRT

CEBU, Philippines - Kenneth Cobonpue, chair of the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas, reiterated his urgent call to build a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Cebu, a transport infrastructure which Cebu actually needs "yesterday".

"We definitely need a mode of mass transportation that does not encroach on the narrow and few roads we already have," Cobonpue told The FREEMAN yesterday.

Earlier, Presidential Assistant for Visayas Michael Dino announced the feasibility study to build an LRT in Cebu has already been concluded.

Dino had said results of the study will be submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for evaluation and approval.

Cobonpue said: "I sincerely hope this project will be realized during President Duterte's term. We need it yesterday."

Sought for comment yesterday, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Melanie Ng said: "We're looking forward to a better Cebu in terms of transport and traffic. We are glad our government is seriously looking into the Cebu LRT project and that the study has already been concluded."

"We hope DOTr and NEDA will act on this immediately," Ng further added.

Cobonpue also raised the need for Cebu to have a subway, which is a railway system underground.

Progressive Asian cities like Singapore and Hong Kong have very high quality subway systems, making their mass transport infrastructure very reliable and efficient.

"Cities all over the world the size and density of Cebu ideally should have an underground rail system underneath it (subway) and an overhead or coastal one outside of the metropolis (LRT)," the RDC chair said.

Cebu should implement a mass transport system to further unlock its growth potential as it continues to attract both local and foreign investments each year and being the largest business hub in the country outside of Metro Manila.

Previously, Dino said there have already been several private companies and even the Chinese government that have expressed interest in developing an LRT system in Cebu, and are now doing initial tests and studies for the project.

A railway system has long been clamored by both the commuting public and the business sector, as this is seen as an effective solution to traffic woes.

There had been proposals to build a mass transport in Cebu but none had so far been realized.

The Metro Cebu Roadmap by the Japan International Cooperation Agency has cited developing a highway network and public transport as among the projects Cebu should prioritize.

The Metro Cebu Roadmap was initiated in 2013 by Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board, JICA, and Yokohama City in Japan to attain the Mega Cebu Vision 2050. (FREEMAN)