City gets letter from World Bank on BRT study fund aid

Updated February 04, 2009 12:00 AM Cebu City finally received a formal communication from the World Bank funding agency of the $315,000 technical assistance (not $355,000 as earlier reported) for the study of the Bus Rapid Transit System in the city. Jyoti Shukla, Program Manager of the World Bank Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), sent an e-mail to Cebu City Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña last Monday informing him of the approval of the funding for the BRT corridor study. “Of this amount, US$40,000 or 13 percent may be used to cover task management costs by the World Bank,” Shukla said. Other than the PPIAF funds, Cebu City will bring in additional funding as support. Shukla also said that the PPIAF task manager Ben Eijbergen will be keeping in touch with the city officials soon. A copy of the e-mailed letter was shown by City Planning and Development officer Nigel Paul Villarete who is working for the pushing through of the BRT as the mass transport system of Cebu City. “This will be an international tender and experts in the field of urban public mass transportation will be selected, those with wide and deep experience on real BRT implementation from other countries,” Villarete said. The engagement of consultants may be done within this month so the study may start in March. For Cebu City’s part, Villarete said they will be establishing the necessary organizational structures to oversee the study. World Bank-Manila, he said, will identify their own study team and they will also request the city to organize the local committees. The Department of Transportation and Communication will also be coordinated since they are also doing another study on local aspects. They will proceed into advocacy, information dissemination and stakeholders consultation particularly with the three other cities that will also benefit for the said mass transport system. Very recently the city of Mandaue approved a resolution copying and supporting the same resolution approved in the Cebu City Council choosing BRT over other suggested modes of urban transportation. – Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP (THE FREEMAN)