The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Cebu provincial officials, led by Gov. Gwen Garcia, have embarked on preliminary discussions for the construction of a 67.5-km underground passenger railway line.
The proposed Metro Cebu Urban Mass Rapid Transit (UMRT) system is set to stretch from Carcar City in the south to Danao City in the north, as reported by Sugbo News.
Timothy John Batan, DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development, presented the project summary, highlighting the UMRT’s potential to alleviate traffic congestion, shorten travel times, and enhance connectivity across Metro Cebu through its first-ever underground railway system.
Gov. Garcia, recognizing the lengthy timeline typically associated with projects of this scale, proposed an innovative approach: to let Cebu’s Local Government Units (LGUs) spearhead the project’s development, with the DOTr retaining supervisory oversight.
This method draws on Cebu’s successful history of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in large-scale infrastructure, such as the Mactan Cebu International Airport and the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway.
The provincial government plans to offer the subway project to private firms under a PPP arrangement, facilitated by the Economic Enterprise Council (EEC), ensuring adherence to legal standards and regulations.
Usec. Batan expressed optimism about the initiative, noting Cebu’s pioneering efforts in PPPs and LGU-led projects. The proposed UMRT not only represents a significant step forward in Cebu’s infrastructure development but also stands as a testament to the region’s unity and innovative approach to tackling its transportation needs.
This initiative marks a potential milestone for Cebu, aiming to become the first in the country to finance a subway project entirely through local government and private sector collaboration, without dependence on national government funding. – CebuLifestyleChannel.ph