Council wants to be partof BRT committee

THE Cebu City Council is requesting to be a part of the Technical Working Group (TWG) and the project management offices for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) study for the South Road Property.

The mandate to have a TWG for the BRT study is based on the executive order no 12-4. Aside from the TWG, the project management offices will also help in the BRT corridor study.

Councilor Alvin Dizon, was one of the councilors who pushed for the council’s participation in the study.

“There must be a representative of BRT committee and should include the chairman of the committee on transportation,” said Dizon.

But Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is opposed to the council’s move.

Rama said that the council should no longer intervene in the matters about BRT because the city’s funds are unaffected.

“Dili na necessary nga mo-apil pa ang council kay wala may gasto ang siyudad (It’s not necessary for the Council to participate in the BRT because the city government isn’t spending for the project),” Rama said during the press conference last Thursday.

City Integrated Traffic Office Management executive director, Rafael Yap supported the executive order to find a technical committee to tackle the technicalities and impacts of BRT in Cebu City.

“That’s okay with me. That’s the mayor’s prerogative,” Yap said.

The Department of Transportation and Communications in coordination with the Cebu City government would prepare and implement the project.

The World Bank will provide the external funding while the Clean Technology Fund and the French Development Agency (AFD) will be responsible for the complementary measures to improve the city transport. /Correspondent Tweeny Malinao