CEBU CITY, May 7 (PNA) — Cebu City will get a hybrid electric road train ahead of the PHP10.6-billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) mass transport system, officials said.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo Wednesday signed at City Hall a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to implement the project.
The hybrid electric road train, which is designed by Filipino engineers, will be powered by hybrid diesel fuel and an electric battery.
It will run on dedicated lanes, the DOST said in a short description of the project.
Five linked coaches make up each road train, which stretches 40 meters.
One coach will carry the train’s power source, while the other four will hold passengers at 40 for each coach of 160 per ride.
Montejo said their agency is grateful to the city for embracing the innovation.
“It is a very clear message of interest of the city to consider our road train as an option to address your mass transport program. We are very pleased by this development and the open-mindedness of the city, for thinking outside the box. So many of our problems need innovation,” he said.
The MOU did not state the project cost, how much fare will be charged and which route the road train will serve.
Lawyer Rafael Yap, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) executive director, said the route still has to be identified.
Yap said the road train will complement the other mass transport systems that are being introduced, like the BRT which is set to be operational by 2017 and the high-quality public transport system (HQPTS) of SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Project team leader Rio Pagtalunan said that the prototype might arrive in the city early next year. (PNA)