CEBU City North District Rep. Raul del Mar said he addressed his questions in the House of Representatives on changes in the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Finance (DOF), and not to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino.
Dino had responded in news reports that there would be no shortening of the BRT route, only a phasing of the work.
“I did not ask him (Dino),” del Mar said. “I asked DOTr and DOF. They can answer the questions authoritatively at a hearing to be conducted by the House Committee on Transportation.”
Del Mar, in a privileged speech at the House on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, said changes in the BRT route that have been approved would deprive thousands of commuters in the originally specified areas of direly needed mass transportation.
He said any change in the Cebu BRT plan needs the prior approval of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
So do changes in the loan agreement, which must be approved by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), said del Mar.
“Dino cannot answer these questions as he is not the officially designated spokesperson of the DOTr on the matter. Moreover, they must be answered during the House Committee on Transportation hearing and the answers must be officially given during the said hearing,” the congressman said in a press statement released on Sunday, Sept. 1.
He pointed out that shortening the route and phasing are two different things. “Shortening the route is a major change even if made in the guise of phasing, which Dino practically admitted,” del Mar said.
“Even a little boy knows that changing the starting point from Bulacao to the South Road Properties (SRP) is shortening and not phasing. Changing the end point from Talamban to IT Park is likewise shortening and not phasing,” his statement read.
Del Mar said he appreciates that Dino made himself available to personally explain his side, “and I shall in the future seek it if necessary.”
“But it is clear that we gave different positions and the future House Committee on Transportation hearing will clarify the issue and who is right.” (PR)