Duterte supporters back Cebu BRT

CEBU, Philippines — Members of Kilusang Pagbabago, a grassroots-based movement envisioned to be the vanguard of the Duterte administration, expressed support for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

Among them were Carlos Caballero and Benjamin Silab, who attended yesterday’s BRT forum.

Both said they now understand the importance and benefits of the mass transport project.

“Karon nakita nako nga dako gyud kaayo ang iyahang benepisyo para sa katawhan.Karon taas na kaayo akong support sa BRT kay nakasabot man ko sa project. Maayo gyud,” Caballero said.

Silab, for his part, said BRT is the best solution to Cebu’s worsening traffic and is cheaper than the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system.

The forum was meant to relay the advantages and to correct or address the misconceptions about the P16.3-billion BRT project.

The group invited Cebu City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete and former BRT project manager Rafael Yap to shed light on the project.

Yap said Cebuanos should not believe the project’s common misconceptions, including excessive cost, low capacity, and no legal basis.

“One of the misconceptions of the project is that the city’s narrow roadways make BRT impossible and that there’s no enough demand to support the project,” he said.

He said the BRT is seen to service daily at least 330,000 passengers who would enjoy “faster, safer, cleaner, and more convenient public transport.”

With issues on narrow roads, he said, there is a need for BRT to maximize well the city’s roads.

“In congested road, the most efficient approach is to allow high capacity vehicles to have a dedicated lane,” he said, adding that the increasing number of private cars contributes to more traffic jams.

Once implemented, Yap said the BRT project targets to eliminate 20,000 to 30,000 cars off the road.

It is also seen to improve air quality and save 17 minutes of travel time, among others. —Joyce Ann Gabutan, CNU Intern/KBQ (FREEMAN)