RDC: defer Panglao BRT for

Metro-Tagbilaran monorail

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan 31 (PIA)—The Regional Development Council’s (RDC) Development Administration Sector (DAS) would rather go for laying the blueprint for an ambitious monorail transport system than continue with an earlier identified project for Bohol.

During the RDC Advisory Committee meeting held in Cebu weeks ago, DAC chairperson, Argeo Melisimo, who incidentally is a Boholano and understands the worsening traffic problem in Tagbilaran and its neighboring towns, manifested that a monorail should be considered, instead of the proposed Panglao-Tagbilaran Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

Earlier, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), in its Tier 2 projects, included the Panglao-Tagbilaran BRT and other airport projects.

The Panglao Bohol International Airport-Tagbilaran City route is currently served by Ceres Transit, which operates at half an hour intervals.

The rest is served by public tourist transport companies and private transportation.

With the current bulk of passengers from Korea’s 6 flight daily and 13 Panglao-Manila-Panglao, and ten other domestic destinations, the Panglao-Tagbilaran City BRT has been identified as a service.

In fact, among the DOTr airport projects, the Panglao-Tagbilaran BRT got proposed among the tier 2 projects, including the Cebu Urban Mass Rapid Transit Central Line which is underway, funded by the P14.457 million as proposed.

However, possibly sensing that the Panglao-Tagbilaran City BRT would necessarily contribute to the worsening traffic gridlocks in Tagbilaran, a monorail system could be a good alternative solution.

The monorail, which Melisimo considered, would cover Tagbilaran and the towns of Corella, Alburquerque, Maribojoc and Panglao, instead of the Panglao-Tagbilaran BRT.

Naturally, it could also serve Cortes, where a monorail station could be set up and Dauis, midway between Panglao and Tagbilaran.

While a Panglao Tagbilaran BRT would necessitate wider roads to decongest traffic, a monorail would only occupy a small space for the rail and continuously serve as a mass transport.

Also at the RDC, led now by Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Melisimo then told Bohol officials to write to the DOTr to defer the implementation of the proposed Panglao-Tagbilaran BRT and prioritize the monorail project.

ON this, Gov Aumentado, whose development direction for Bohol has been towards smart and resilient infrastructure, a monorail does not go very far from the province’s intentions. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

SMART INFRASTRUCTURE. It may not happen yet this soon, but the RDC, under Bohol Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado has facilitated the study for the establishment of a monorail system to serve as a mass transport for people from Alburquerque, Baclayon, Panglao, Dauis, Tagbilaran, Cortes and Maribojoc, as a proactive solution to decongesting traffic in Tagbilaran. (PIABohol/GO)