A CEBU-based company is set to conduct a study on the viability of a cable car system in Davao City, which the company plans to propose to address traffic congestion.
Jerome Ornopia, president and CEO of Cebu City's R3 Industrial Solutions Enterprises, Inc., told reporters in an interview yesterday that they are introducing the aerial ropeway project to the city council of Davao.
Ornopia has already finished with the project's feasibility study for Cebu and is here in Davao to undertake another, hoping to implement the project here as well.
Doppelmayr's Transport Firm, the company's foreign partner, had already constructed one in Singapore but this was mainly used for tourism.
"Ours is a public transportation and should it be implemented in the Philippines, it will be the first in Asia," Ornopia said.
Ornopia said the project in Cebu, which stretches from Lapu-lapu City to Cebu City (passes through Mandaue City), can carry about 6,000 passengers an hour with each cable car carrying a maximum of 10.
He added that the total investment cost of the project in Cebu is estimated to be at P7 billion. If it will be approved this year, they will start the construction next year and it will take them between 16 to 18 months to finish.
The aerial ropeway project is propelled by a motor that will power all gondolas, hence, its installation will be much less expensive that those of the MRT, LRT, or BRT.
Davao City Councilor Bernard Al-ag expressed interest on the project, thinking that it will not only solve the city's medium to heavy traffic flow but will add to tourist destinations in the city as well.
As for the likelihood of the city council approving the project, Al-ag said, "We will wait for the final outcome and recommendations for the cable car system."
