CEBU CITY – The Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC) has urged the Cebu City government to reconsider its objections to the proposed P603 million Light Rail Transit (LRT), saying the rail system is faster, safer and more reliable.

In a letter addressed to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, DoTC Undersecretary for Rails Guiling Mamondiong said the LRT system will not cost Cebu City or the national government any “financial exposure” and would even “complement Mayor Osmeña’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System.”

“The proposed Cebu Metro Rail Transit (CMRT) project will serve as the backbone for the Metro Cebu Mass Transit system,” wrote Mamondiong, as he tried to answer Osmeña’s concern that the project would jeopardize the city’s chances of a foreign loan for the BRT.

The Mayor earlier said City Hall would reject the LRT idea for now and tell the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) that the city’s support for LRT would not be given until after the BRT study is finished.

But Mamonding said the BRT’s loan application will never and cannot be affected by the implementation of the Cebu MRT because the World Bank and Asian Development Bank are among the world’s biggest and largest financial lending institutions that can afford to finance big projects requiring billions of dollars.

Mamondiong said the CMRT which is a light rail transit operation could follow the straight line route proposed along the national highway from Talisay to Mandaue City. A separate route for the proposed BRT would be identified in the Public Transport Strategic Plan for Metro Cebu which would be completed in 11 months.

While he was open to other options for mass transport in Metro Cebu other than the BRT, Mayor Osmeña earlier said he has reservations about the LRT.

Osmeña said any project would have to undergo thorough deliberation and public discussion, as well as an analysis by transportation experts first.

He said he is suspicious about the Oct. 24 deadline for the local government unit to endorse the project so that it could secure foreign funding.

“There is no mayor who could come close to my experience in getting foreign funding for projects. There is no such thing as a deadline,” said Osmeña.

The Cebu City council has already approved a resolution choosing the BRT as the urban mass transport system for the city especially within the South Road Properties (SRP), envisioned soon as the center of economic development in Asia.

While the city prefers the BRT, DoTC’s Mamondiong said the LRT will complement with the BRT and not compete with each other.

Phase 1 of the proposed LRT project will have 19 stations covering the cities of Talisay, Cebu and Mandaue. The 19 stations will include some major streets in Cebu City like Osmeña Boulevard, Escario Street, Gorordo, and others.