Onward to BRT?

Atty. Gloria Estenzo-Ramos

The searing heat is once more upon us.

Our Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG ASA) office reminds us to pay attention to our health condition and to reduce prolonged exposure to the sun.

It is best to carry water bottles as a habit. For the elderly, or those with chronic medical conditions, it is best to take the necessary precautions.

It can no longer be argued – our world is warming and its consequences will get worse especially for our dear Philippines, which is ranked 3rd among the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. Agriculture, fisheries, water, health, and livelihoods of marginalized sectors are impacted.

In March last year, the Senate ratified the Paris Agreement, which is a historic global pact to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The ratification meant that we will be able “to access to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which seeks to help developing countries limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help vulnerable societies adapt to the impact of climate change. Aside from this, …the country would also gain technical and financial assistance.”

https://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/164159-senate-concurs-paris-climate-deal

In 2015, we submitted the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) in responding to climate change, where we undertook to “GHG (CO2e) emissions reduction of about 70% by 2030 relative to its Business-as-usual (BAU) scenario of 2000-2030. Reduction of CO2e emissions will come from energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry sectors.”

Do we have the inventory of greenhouse gas? Who is monitoring? Is it updated and accessible to the public?

Said INDC document provides that “In finalizing and updating these INDCs, after the Paris agreement is adopted, the Philippines will be guided by best practices in participatory and consultative decision-making involving all concerned agencies, sectors, and stakeholders.

These processes must be linked to a robust means of implementation, which include financial support, technology development and transfer, and capacity building.”

But, not much has been heard from our agencies on this matter.

We do not feel a sense of urgency in mitigating and adapting to climate change, which is most unfortunate and alarming, as well as in reporting our emissions and progress in the INDC implementation to fight climate change.

Our legal framework requires the integration of climate change in our policies and programs but the response of the government and private sector, for that matter, can stand improvement. Our Climate Change Commission is likewise seemingly invisible.

RA 9729, the Climate Change Act of 2009, declares as “the policy of the State to systematically integrate the concept of climate change in various phases of policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies and other development tools and techniques by all agencies and instrumentalities of the government.”

Cebu City government’s proposal to adopt the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the first in the country, can be seen as a mitigation measure to reduce carbon emission at a local level, which we badly need.

With an efficient mass transportation system, like what Singapore and Japan have, we can expect more people to let go of their private vehicles and with that, the polluting air which causes asthma, respiratory and heart ailments.

With its roots from Curitiba, then Bogota, in Colombia, the “world Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network has nearly tripled over the past decade and this is expected to continue growing.

Worldwide, there is growing interest in buses and BRT is enjoying increasing popularity.

This transport mode is considered by some within the transport industry as a new infrastructure panacea because of its flexibility but also its relatively low cost.” https://www.uitp.org/news/bus-rapid-transit-world-panorama

When plans push through, Cebu City will join “approximately 190 BRT systems worldwide carrying more than 31 million passengers per day. Latin America currently leads the way with BRT systems in 61 cities, closely followed by Europe with 56.”

What are the benefits of having the BRT system?

Apart from being cost-effective and reducing our traffic woes, there are transit improvements, health, economic and environmental benefits, among others, as follows:

1. Dedicated lanes keep buses out of traffic, running on time, and prevents bus bunching, which helps to reduce operations cost, allowing for more service and less cuts

2. Traffic Signal Priority systems will hold green lights longer for approaching BRT vehicles, minimizing the amount of time that BRT stops for anything other than passengers

3. Creates bike lanes, which encourage biking which has been proven to improve health;

4. By offering greener choices for transportation, BRT reduces asthma and other respiratory problems by reducing air pollution;

5. Reduces obesity and health problems by creating safe, accessible and walkable communities. BRT would create pleasant transit stops and safer streets and sidewalks;

6. Turns a 45 minute bus ride into a 30 minute bus ride, saving time and money for riders;

7. By offering people a competitive, reliable alternative to a private vehicle, household transportation costs can be reduced, thereby freeing up more resources for other necessities such as housing and healthcare;

8. BRT creates hundreds of local jobs (construction and support jobs);

9. Reduces GHG’s by 1,900 tons per year by attracting more riders and with new, state-of-the-art hybrid buses that reduce travel times by 30%

10. Cleaner, greener buses (CNG) means improved air quality and reducing air pollution that causes asthma and other respiratory illnesses;
BRT – it’s worth trying.