P10-B Cebu City bus plan gets ECC

CEBU CITY—A P10-billion project to build a bus route and terminal system here that promises to be a model in public transportation efficiency has received an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), which, however, fell short of allowing what could potentially be the most controversial side of the project—cutting trees.

The Central Visayas office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued an ECC for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project but warned that it didn’t come with a permit to cut trees.

Ed Llamedo, regional spokesperson for the DENR, said the project proponent must secure a separate special tree-cutting permit.

Llamedo said at least 2,024 trees stood in the way of the project on its 16-kilometer route, which starts from N. Bacalso Avenue in the village of Bulacao and ends on Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue in the village of Talamban.

Llamedo said most of the trees were narra for which the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), one of the project proponents, would have to secure a tree-cutting permit signed by Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

Llamedo said Paje issued a memorandum in August 2014 requiring public consultation prior to the issuance of special tree-cutting permits.

The regional DENR office, Llamedo said, could endorse the tree-cutting permit if the project proponents were able to give proof of a public consultation.

He said all the villages that were on the route of the BRT project should be consulted and issue certifications saying they do not oppose the project.

To acquire a tree-cutting permit, the project proponents also need to submit studies on the effects of tree cutting along the project route on biodiversity and water resources.

Llamedo said the DOTC needed 202,400 seedlings to replace the 2,024 trees that could be displaced by the project.

While the ECC was granted to the DOTC on April 26, Llamedo said, the department has not submitted an application for a special tree-cutting permit.

The DENR also required the BRT proponents to guarantee implementation of an environmental impact management plan that would be submitted for the project. They are also required to form a monitoring body that will submit periodic reports to the DENR on the project’s impact on the environment.

The P10.2-billion project is being funded by the World Bank. It involves the construction, among others, of at least 33 bus stations along the BRT route.

A total of 176 buses are required for the BRT’s initial operation.

The BRT is expected to service an average of 433,000 bus trips per day, cut 25 minutes of travel time and save at least P7.50 in fare.

The BRT is expected to be in operation starting in 2018.