Malou Guanzon-Apalisok
When Socioeconomic and Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority Director General Ernesto Pernia batted for two approaches to address Cebu City’s worsening traffic problem, that is, the Bus Rapid Transit and the Light Rail Transit, I thought he was actually proposing a political solution to the issue that has pitted Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena against Duterte partisans in Cebu City led by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino.
Mayor Osmena projects a take no prisoners stance in his defense of the BRT but he sure knows he can’t be too hostile to the groups identified with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte without inviting some kind of political backlash.
The visit here last week of the NEDA boss looked like perfect timing to launch a ceasefire except that the middle ground appears to have been lost as early as April 12.
During last week’s Philippine Economic Briefing forum, Sec. Pernia batted for BRT saying the project is a short-term solution which can be accomplished in two years.
He declared the BRT is ready for implementation.
Sec. Pernia also disclosed LRT proponents have yet to submit a feasibility study. He took careful note not to discredit the project. He described it as a long-term resolution that could take 10 to 15 years.
Apparently, the issues hounding the LRT or the middle ground wrapped in the pronouncements of the NEDA chieftain can no longer save the day for the BRT.
Dept. of Transportation Secretary Francisco Tugade blocked the BRT in a letter to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.
In the letter, Tugade explained he is against the BRT on the basis of the issues noted by the Inter Department Task Force among them, that the infra needed for the BRT does not exist.
The multi-agency task force also cited the BRT’s incomplete detailed engineering design and delays in the road right-of-way acquisitions among its deficiencies.
My own take is, in the context of local politics, the project has to go or it becomes a mega platform for Tommy Osmena’s re-election in 2019.
How unfortunate tor 2.5 million Cebuanos, who will have to endure the daily traffic distress and the impact this is causing the local business sector and the delivery of public services not just for a year or two but for the long haul, that is, assuming the LRT or a superior system is certain to be implemented in 10 to 15 years.
But are these two projects the only solution to Cebu’s traffic woes? Are local government units helpless in finding ways to help rationalize the public transport system?
Two weeks ago, the local government of Dumaguete City organized a forum to hear out the sentiments of pedicab drivers on the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Plan, touted as a flagship program of the Duterte administration.
The rationalization of the public transport system as envisioned by the PUVMP under DOTr’s Order 2017-011 is an emotional issue that often triggers transport strikes and protest actions by militant PUV operators and drivers in Metro Manila.
(To be continued next Tuesday)