Transport group: Include us in BRT talk

CEBU, Philippines - A transport group is seeking inclusion in meetings on the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit in Cebu City

Romeo Armamento, vice president of the National Confederation of Transport-workers’ Union, said yesterday that their members, especially the operators and drivers of public utility jeepneys, are the ones who would be greatly affected by the project.

“Dapat gyud unta nga apilon sa Cebu City government ang sector sa transportasyon kay kami usa gyud mi nga maapektahan anang BRT project,” said Armamento.

Armamento lamented that they were not invited to ongoing discussions on the BRT implementation.

NCTU-CV has over 2,000 jeepney drivers as members covering at least 22 different routes in Metro Cebu.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 said that at least 22 PUJ routes will be restructured once the BRT is in place.

Once the project is completed, more or less 240 long buses will be deployed to serve 14 designated stations from Bulacao to Talamban.

The buses will occupy the city’s major thoroughfares, including N. Bacalso Avenue, Osmeña Boulevard, N. Escario Street and Governor Cuenco Avenue, where jeepneys also ply their routes.

“Gikan pagsugod sa conceptualization sa maong proyekto, wa gyud nila gikonsulta ang sector sa transportasyon aron sad unta ilahang makuha ang among mga concerns or suggestions,” Armamento said.

He added that while they are against the BRT project, they will not formally register their opposition since they do not want to be branded as “anti-development.”

The BRT project, which will be implemented in three phases, was approved by the National Economic Development Authority board last May 29. It is expected to be operational in early 2017.

The BRT is a bus system – whose segregated lanes are made exclusive for the buses – is expected to help decongest traffic, provide fast, comfortable and cost-effective mobility and to ease the transportation problem in the city.

Cebu’s BRT will use 176 environment-friendly buses for its 23-kilometer bus corridor with 33 stations.

Meanwhile, Valenzuela City Representative Sherwin “WIN” Gatchalian has lauded the DOTC for moving to put in place the BRT system in Metro Manila after Cebu to solve the worsening traffic problem.

Gatchalian, a senior vice chair of the House committee on Metro Manila development, said that the Manila BRT System will not only help decongest the National Capital Region but it will also bring economic gains.

“Building the BRT will provide an alternative to the LRT and MRT systems, thus helping members of the labor force increase their mobility and productivity. It will be a win-win situation for both workers, employers, and the economy as a whole,” said Gatchalian.

The Metro Manila BRT system is the second project of its kind in the country next to Cebu’s P10.6 billion BRT project, funded by the World Bank through its Clean Technology Fund.

“Fares are likely to be competitive, considering that commuters now have other options to be able to go to their respective workplaces. This will be a huge economic relief especially to students and their parents,” Gatchalian said.

No less than DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has been quoted as saying that BRTs are “game changers,” and since “they will be granted as concessions, their riders will not be at the mercy of ‘colorum’ vehicles or transport strikes.  They will be spared from unnecessary disruptions and unsafe traveling conditions.”

In terms of expenses, the BRT is cost-effective while being able to deli-ver fast and high-quality transport services compared to a light rail transit system because local labor and materials will be used for the project.

Having such an alternative system is crucial as road congestion already costs Asian economies around two to five percent of their GDP yearly because of lost time and higher transport costs, according to the Asian Development Bank.

Gatchalian personally observed, as a delegate during his term as Valenzuela City mayor, the Transmilenio BRT system in Bogota, Colombia, which success inspired many cities to build their own BRTs. —ATO (FREEMAN)