THE proposal for Cebu to have an Integrated Inter-modal Transport System (IITS) earned the support of the business community.
Cebu Business Club (CBC) president Gordon Alan Joseph said the proposal of the Transportation Department is the “right solution” to address the chronic traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.
“This is the right solution—from a mass transit point of view,” said Joseph, adding that this is the same transport model recommended under the Mega Cebu Development Roadmap, which will be confirmed when the Jica transport study will be released in September this year.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced last week that it will implement the IITS in Metro Cebu within the next two years.
DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, in a statement, said there is no single solution to address the transportation issues In Cebu and that it needs a “basket of solutions” given Cebu’s population and economy.
The IITS includes a point-to-point (P2P) bus system similar to MyBus, which is already operational in the city; a monorail in Lapu-Lapu City; the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on three-lane roads; and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines from Carcar to Danao, and Mandaue to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is backing the DOTR’s ITS program. They said they are looking forward to the speedy implementation of this system.
In a statement issued yesterday, CCCI president Consul Antonio Chiu said that this multi-faceted set of infrastructure investments, when complemented with non-infrastructure initiatives, can ensure the smooth flow of people, vehicles, goods, services and investments in Cebu.
“We look forward to the collaboration of all stakeholders in the quick implementation of these projects to shorten the suffering of the Cebuano community,” said Chiu.
In a text message yesterday, Chiu said he will bring up the idea of crafting a unified position paper for Cebu in today’s execom meeting of the CCCI, consider the other chambers’ views as well.
“We hope more organizations will follow the CCCI’s lead in voicing out support for projects, which we believe will finally solve our traffic problem,” he said.
The business community in Mandaue City also welcomed DOTr’s proposal.
However, it suggested careful planning to properly execute the projects and fast-track its implementation for fewer disruptions in business.
“Traffic is expected as business grows and more economic activity occurs in the area. We need to plan properly the execution of the projects,” said MCCI president Stanley Go.
Besides the intermodal IITS program, Joseph also pointed out the need to address other issues such as road widening, intersection improvements, traffic light and signalization improvement, enforcer education, enforcement of traffic laws, and massive improvement in the manner in which drivers’ licenses are issued.
The CBC president said the government is issuing licenses without proper education or driver training.
“Without these improvements, then all the infrastructure improvements will be minimized and most likely, seriously less effective. Manila is a good example of this,” he noted.
“The challenge is how to walk the talk in translating into coherent policies and guidelines, strict observance of basic laws and regulations, speedy and smooth implementation of infrastructure projects such as roads and the IITS and inculcating a culture through education and discipline of the drivers, public and many more,” the CCCI added.
CCCI also expressed support for the proposal of the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (CVRDC) for the creation of the Metro Cebu Traffic Management Council (MCTMC).
The chamber said having an oversight body would be helpful in implementing traffic management and in alleviating the traffic congestion that has affected all sectors and has even pushed foreign and local investors away from Cebu.
“The MCTMC, to be organized immediately, should have its functionality in place, clear accountability spelled out, exercise transparency in all its actions and decisions to be effective and efficient,” the chamber said.