The Cebu City Council is requesting the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to study the possibility of extending the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route to Mandaue City.
The resolution authored by Councilors Alvin Arcilla and Nestor Archival Sr. also wants the DOTC to include in the BRT project the upgrading of the Ayala to Talamban portion of the BRT dedicated lanes.
“The worsening traffic congestion in the city sees the need for an efficient mass transport system as an immediate one. It would be timely that the DOTC proceed with the next phases of the BRT project,”
From Talamban, the City Council suggested that the route be connected to Mandaue through the Canduman road.
The resolution also wants the DOTC to include in the BRT project the upgrading of the Ayala to Talamban portion of the BRT dedicated lanes.
“The worsening traffic congestion in the city sees the need for an efficient mass transport system as an immediate one. It would be timely that the DOTC proceed with the next phases of the BRT project,” the resolution stated.
The councilors pointed out that under the Local Government Code, national agencies with project implementation functions shall coordinate among themselves and with local government units concerned and that they should ensure the participation of LGUs in both the planing and implementation of the projects.
Councilors Arcilla and Archival are both from barangay Talamban.
Archival said they want to ensure that the BRT route reaches up to the far end of Talamban so that the possibility of expanding the route to Mandaue will be easier.
“We are also planning to request the DOTC to also study the possibility of extending the route to Talisay since most of the passengers in Bulacao are from Talisay. But we will have a separate resolution for that,” Archival said.
The entire BRT route will start at Bulacao and will end at Talamban.
The first phase of the project will be from Bulacao to Ayala.
Just last month, the national government has signed the loan agreement with the World Bank for the Cebu BRT project.
World Bank will provide funding worth $116 million and another $25 million from its Clean Technology Fund.
“Our improved finances have enabled us to spend more confidently on public investments supporting our rapid growth. As Cebu City is fast becoming one of our prime urban centers, investing in sound infrastructure lays solid groundwork for a more sustainable growth trajectory,” said Department of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima in a statement.
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