Council to Tomas: Sign deal for monorail study

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council is now studying the proposal of a Manila-based corporation that wants to conduct a business case study for the implementation of a monorail system in the city.

Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. sponsored a resolution authorizing Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City Government and Philtram Transportation Consortium Inc. (PTCI).

Under the proposed MOU, the PTCI will do the business case study that includes analyses of present or future trip generation/distribution; probable alignments; ridership levels and fares; preliminary design; related cost estimates; project viability assessment; and formulation of implementation plans; project financing, among others.

"Philtram seeks the cooperation of Cebu City to establish a project identification and preparation framework that will govern the conduct of any required public transportation and/or urban rail-based or bus-based transit study for Cebu City," read the MOU.

The Cebu City government, for its part, is determined to develop and maintain an "inclusive and sustainable mobility" of its residents.  Councilor Jose Daluz III asked Gabuya if the city government will own the study after it will be completed.

"We have to be sure as to the proprietary rights of the study,” Daluz said.

Gabuya said it is not mentioned in the memorandum.

Councilor Sisinio Andales said the Philtram cannot demand ownership of the study if the provision is silent.

But, Daluz said it should be spelled out in the memorandum that the city will own the study since the city has participation in the conduct of the study.

With this, Gabuya yielded to Daluz’ suggestion to refer the MOU to the council's committee on laws and to the City Legal Office for their comments and recommendations.

Under the MOU, the city government will assign personnel as part of the Technical Working Group for coordination.

City Hall personnel will also facilitate field works especially in public consultations, among others.

The city government will also assist Philtram in accessing data, reports, studies, and documents of the city and other national agencies in the conduct of transport and traffic surveys.

"If the study will conclude that the project is viable, and Philtram intends to proceed with the monorail project, under existing legal frameworks of the government, it may or may not, on its own volition, proceed with the next phase of the project development, which is the conduct of a Bankable Feasibility Study," the MOU reads.  —  /GAN (FREEMAN)