Mike Dino backs monorail for metro

CEBU, Philippines — The president’s alter ego in the Visayas supports the proposal of a Davao-based firm to construct a monorail system instead of the light rail transit (LRT) system for Metro Cebu.

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino said the monorail is the right solution to the traffic problem that Cebu has been suffering for years now.

"I have been pushing for a mass transport system for Cebu. So, this is it. This is the one that Cebuanos are waiting for the past 30 years," Dino said in a phone interview from Japan.

As an advocate of the Cebu Integrated Intermodal Transport System (CIITS), Dino said he believes that monorail is the right track in solving the traffic gridlock in the metro.

“Monorail is faster to build, consumes less footprint and it has the carrying capacity for Cebu’s needs,” Dino said.

 "With President Rodrigo Duterte’s support of the new united leadership of Cebu, we can finally have our mass transit system," he added.

According to him, while the monorail is not classified as a light rail transit, heavy monorails can meet the capacity of an LRT, which is very good for Metro Cebu.

 He is optimistic that the proposal will be immediately endorsed for technical review to the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as soon as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) grants Udenna Infrastructure Corporation and its foreign partner the original proponent status (OPS).

"My goal is not just to reduce the burden of Cebuano commuters but to solve the horrendous traffic that we are experiencing today," Dino said.

The presidential assistant said he is glad that the private sector is bullish in investing on a massive infrastructure project that aims to solve Metro Cebu's traffic problem.

Manuel Jamonir, vice president for operations of Udenna Infrastructure Corporation, said they intend to construct two monorails-- from Talisay City to Talamban, Cebu City which will be called the Central Line and the Airport Line from Cebu City to Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City.

These two lines combined would cost around P80 billion and this is a Private-Public-Partnership," said Jamonir.

Jamonir said they can start the project by next year and finish the two lines in three to four years if awarded to them.

"Both lines can carry 700,000 passengers in a day," said Jamonir.

 He explained that they opted for monorails instead of the original LRT proposal because it is cheaper to maintain and the roads here are narrow.

"Although this proposal has still to go through the normal process under the Build Operate Transfer Law and subject to a Swiss challenge, we are optimistic that the project will be awarded to us," Jamonir said.

Udenna Infrastructure Corporation is owned by businessman Dennis Uy, a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte. — FPL (FREEMAN)