CEBU CITY – Cebu 1st District Representative Eduardo Gullas Tuesday said the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Cebu has the blessing of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and has even earmarked a hefty amount for its installation in the province.

Gullas, whose hometown Talisay City will be among the cities that will benefit from the LRT system, said he personally talked with President Arroyo in 2001 to discuss the possibility of an LRT system in Metro Cebu and got the nod of the President.

“I approached the President and asked her help for an LRT system in Cebu and she willingly allocated R100 billion for the project,” said Gullas, although he said that he will try to bring back the issue to the President since that meeting took place over eight years ago.

The proposed LRT system in Cebu has already been approved by the National Economic Development Authority in Central Visayas and endorsed by all the heads of respective local government units affected by the project except for Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Osmeña rejected the proposal for an LRT system in Cebu until the city’s study on the bus rapid transit (BRT) is completed.

Gullas underlined that without the cooperation of Cebu City, the LRT proposal will not be able to proceed.

“It would be impossible to have an LRT that would connect Talisay City and Mandaue City without going through Cebu City,” the Congressman said.

Gullas said he would not ask Osmeña to reconsider his decision. That job, he said, belongs to the Department of Transportation and Communication. Still, he expressed hope that the project would still be implemented.

Cebu’s 3rd District Representative Pablo John Garcia said the LRT system would benefit the entire Cebu province if it pushes through.

“Today, we can almost taste the project but because of the objection of one person, we might not have the LRT,” said Garcia, whose sister, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, is a strong critic of the Cebu City Mayor.