MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is planning to construct an underground rail line in Cebu Province to help alleviate traffic congestion in the area.
According to Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Undersecretary Timothy John Batan, discussions with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the provincial government for the construction of a Cebu Subway has started as early as 2024.
Usec. Batan said the project was conceived as part of the agency’s masterplan for the province to decongest its roads and encourage the use of public transport.
“Ngayon po ay dadaan pa ito sa feasibility study. Isa po sa direksyon nating tinatahak ang involvement ng provincial government ng Cebu nang sa ganun ay maging tugma at angkop sa pangagailangan ng mga taga Cebu,” Usec. Batan said over DOTr’s radio program Sakay Na! on Radyo Pilipinas.
Unlike in Metro Manila, Usec. Batan explained that Cebu Province has narrow roads, making construction of an elevated rail line not feasible.
“Unfortunately, noong tiningnan natin ang Cebu, walang mahaba at malapad na daan kung saan pwede tayong magtayo ng elevated railway. D’yan nanggaling yung ideya [ng Cebu Subway]. Actually, nasa master plan para sa Cebu ang subway,” the transport official said.
He added that an elevated rail line in Cebu would also mean a “curvy” alignment.
“Pwede po pero napakahirap. Magiging baku-bako at liku-liko masyado ang magiging alignment ng ating riles,” he explained.
Under the Cebu masterplan, the subway will have roughly 60 to 65 kilometers of rail line from Danao City to Carcar City.
Usec. Batan said the transport agency will have to conduct a demand study to determine the number of passengers the subway can accommodate.
“Sa kasalukuyan, maguumpisa tayo ng demand or ridership study para magkaroon tayo ng estima kung ilan ang magiging ridership ng Cebu Subway,” he said. (DOTr)
