BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan is still optimistic of the planned Monorail Transport System which the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) hopes to run in this mountain resort.
“If everything goes as planned for the Mono-rail project, the city will soon have an alternative mode of transportation which is environment friendly and cost efficient,” he said.
The DOST is in the thick of a feasibility study on the Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) or road train for the Central Business District as an alternative mode of transport for city residents.
“There is no word yet with regards to the feasibility study but I hope it will be finished soon,” he said.
“We requested that the study will be expanded to cover the adjoining municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay (BLISST) last year that it why it is taking a little longer,” he added.
The idea of a mass transport system for the Summer Capital was hatched in 2013 after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the DOST and the City Government of Baguio to start a joint endeavour of conceptualizing an alternative mode of transportation system as a possible solution to pollution and traffic woes.
The project is being spearheaded by the DOST through the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC-DOST) in consultation with the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
The AGT or road train technology is designed by Filipino engineers and scientists at UP and DOST –MIRDC.
The train is designed to be fully automated coaches that can hold passengers on the transport needs of BLISST which will run on rubber tires instead of metal wheels.
The results of the study will be presented to the BLISST municipalities and other concerned agencies and stakeholders once finished. (Paul Rillorta)