The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is planning to start a feasibility study for a Cebu mass rail transit system this October.
Projects that will help commuters in Cebu and economic growth in the region are being prioritized, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, adding that this followed a presidential directive to accelerate transportation infrastructure across all regions, moving beyond the traditional focus on Metro Manila.
Among the projects being studied is the Metro Cebu Urban Mass Rapid Transit (UMRT) to have a railway in Cebu, with a length of 67.5 kilometers from Danao City to Carcar City, and a 25-kilometer line to Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
“Hopefully we can start the feasibility study by October 2026,” Lopez said, adding that once done, “we will start coordinating with the local government.”
Package 1 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will also be opened soon, consisting of three stations including the Cebu South Bus Terminal Station, Cebu Normal University Station and Fuente Station.
“When Package 1 becomes operational, 34,000 passengers daily will benefit. So the benefits of BRT for Cebu will be huge,” Lopez said.
Other DOTr projects in the region are also ongoing, including the construction of bike lanes, implementation of the Love Bus Free Ride Program, construction of the New Cebu International Container Port and San Fernando Port and public-private partnerships at the Mactan Cebu International Airport and Bohol-Panglao International Airport.
“The Department of Transportation is not just for Metro Manila — equally important is how to connect those in the provinces and regions,” Lopez said.
TMT
