Imee Marcos wants solar-powered cable cars in Ilocos—Tugade

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade at Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum. YUJI VINCENT GONZALES/INQUIRER.net

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday said at least three local government units have expressed their intent for cable cars to be built in their areas as mode of transportation.

In a Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum, Tugade said Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos approached him and asked if they can construct solar-generated cable cars in the province.

“Meron nang tatlong local governments already asking us to put the first cable cars in their places. Si Madam Imee Marcos sa Ilocos, kasi meron na siya nung windmills, meron na siyang mga renewable. Sabi niya, bakit hindi tayo magkaroon ng cable car na solar-operated, lagay mo sa lugar ko ‘yan,” Tugade said.

Tugade said La Union and Caticlan also expressed the same.

“They say it’s a crazy idea of Art Tugade, maybe. ‘Yung Bolivia ba ‘yun o Bogota, they solved their transportation problem through cable cars,” he added.

In June, Tugade said he was eyeing to put up cable cars to ease the traffic problem in Metro Manila and for “scenic purposes.” The then incoming secretary said cable cars that can carry 35 persons in each gondola will be installed first in Pasig and Makati districts and can be operational within 18 months.

READ: Incoming DOTC chief eyes cable cars to decongest Manila traffic

Bolivia has the longest cable car system in the world in—an 11-kilometer gondola system carrying passengers from La Paz to El Alto. Cable cars are also used being used as a mode of transportation in Latin America such as in Caracas in Venezuela, Manizales and Medellin in Colombia, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. JE