Cebu Bus Rapid Transit deferred

The bad news is that President Aquino III has deferred the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan for Cebu City because the system lacks segregation features to minimize stopping and going.

The President’s observation, with due respect, is correct. While we welcome the BRT as a  mass transit in Cebu I am a bit apprehensive about it because  our narrow roads  may prevent the bus scheme from working as planned.

Now there is a need to further study the BRT plan because the President thinks that it is not worth implementing.

It would cost  millions of pesos only to end in a gridlock because of insufficient road space. This goes back to the basic need for a comprehensive urban development plan to determine the transport needs of the people. But if the President is thinking of choosing  flyovers I think he should refer to the experience of Metro Manila where  flyovers failed to improve the traffic situation.

Once again, the President should defer to the inputs of urban developers and planners as to what is good for Metro Cebu and not just parrot the sentiments of  politicians. The President has seen and experienced the horrible traffic in Metro Manila despite the fact that their flyovers have four lanes unlike Cebu City’s two-lane ones. The flyovers in Cebu  become  chokepoints because vehicles coming from a four-lane road suddenly converge in a two-lane flyover.

We should seriously think about the development of Metro Cebu and consider the inputs of experts to make it a better place than Metro Manila. We shouldn’t repeat the mistakes of the capital’s leaders.

A  flood control system should  be given priority instead because having none has become a serious threat to lives and property.

* * *

I am happy that the President approved the construction of an additional terminal at the Mactan Cebu International Airport. This is needed in the face of the fast growing number of airport users and to boost tourism in the Visayas.

The old terminal was planned a long time ago so there is a need to revisit the study that recommended the expansion of the terminals in the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

The present terminal was built to accommodate only about four million passengers but today we have reached about six million. It’s about time we expand Cebu’s  terminal. I would like to thank the President for approving the planned expansion.

* * *

Last Sunday I attended the silver anniversary of the Cebu Lady Lawyers Association (CELLA) at the Casino Español. As an honorary Cellan I was very happy to see  old friends again and renew ties. The   lady lawyers honored their founder and first president Judge Exaltacion Navarro who is  still very sharp despite her advanced age.

I also met Justice Marilyn Yap, Judge Singco, Judge Tecson, Judge Militante and Judge Adviento. The highlight of the evening was the dance number of all  past presidents headed by Justice Yap and lawyer Cora Valencia. The number was well applauded and brought the house down.

Surprisingly I met some of my former students in University of San Carlos who were inducted into  CELLA, like Lesley Cordero who is now working in Malacañang  with Secretary Coloma and lawyer Margarita Yu who was one of my cutest students.

I am so proud of them and would like to congratulate CELLA on their silver anniversary. Congratulations, too, to its president Melina Almase Martinez.