THE Regional Development Council (RDC) is studying the proposal of a foreign consortium to build the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Metro Cebu to solve the lingering traffic problem.
RDC 7 Co-Chairman Kenneth Cobonpue said the foreign private group sent an unsolicited proposal to build an LRT along the coastal areas.
Conbonpue said this is apart from the proposal of Cebu Development Corp. (Cedco), which was presented to the Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) of RDC 7.
He considered it premature to divulge the name of the proponent since a compete feasibility study is yet to be submitted to the RDC 7.
Cobonpue said that once the consortium will submit the feasibility study on the LRT proposal, the RDC 7 will recommend it to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) 7 for further scrutiny.
If convinced, the Neda 7 will recommend it to the Neda-ICC or Investment Coordinating Council for funding. Once funding is found, it will be forwarded to the Neda Board chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte for final approval.
The LRT is under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), while the Cebu Expressway, which is being worked out by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Cobonpue said that while the LRT is still a proposal, the Cebu Expressway Phase 1 will be implemented by DPWH next year in the Danao City side. The second phase will be in 2019 and the final phase will be in 2020.
Expressway
The Cebu Expressway will be from Naga City to Danao City passing the mountains of Cebu, while the proposed LRT will pass the coastal places.
“We want that these projects will be finished before the end of the term of President Duterte,” Cobonpue said.
Meanwhile, DPWH 7 Director Ador Canlas said that even though the LRT project is under DOTr, the agency must coordinate with the DPWH, which owns the major highways in the country on behalf of the National Government. (EOB)