METRO MANILA, 28 August 2007: The dream of Metro Manila commuters to enjoy the comforts of a new bus rapid transit (BRT) system, similar to TransMilenio in Bogotá, Colombia and TransJakarta in Jakarta, Indonesia has just moved closer to reality, as the results of a pre-feasibility study was received positively by the Ms. Anneli Lontoc, Undersecretary for Transportation of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Friday, 10 August 2007.

DOTC Usec. Anneli Lontoc receives the report on the "Pre-feasibility Study for a Bus Rapid Transit System in the Greater Metro Manila Area" from Mr. Jose "Boy" Dulce of USAID Philippines as DOTC Dir. Ildefonso Patdu, CAI-Asia Deputy Executive Director Sophie Punte, NCTS FI study team leader Dr. Ricardo Sigua, and USAID-ECAP Deputy Chief-of-Party Arlene Donaire look on. (Photo by Cody Rabe)

A BRT system is a viable mass rapid system using buses that operate on exclusive lanes with the convenience and features commonly found in rail systems such as pre-boarding fare collection at stations, scheduled and fast trips, and the use of intelligent transport systems (global positioning system or GPS). BRT can serve similar passenger capacities as in rail systems. It can be implemented at 10-20% the cost of rail systems and in as short as 18 months. BRT systems are widely used in the Latin Americas, the US, Europe, Australia, and in Asian countries such as China and Indonesia.

"Providing affordable, efficient, and convenient transport to commuters in the country, especially in Manila is a priority of the DOTC, and I am very supportive of a full feasibility study to make a BRT system in Metro Manila a reality" Usec. Lontoc said in her acceptance speech.

In behalf of DOTC, Undersecretary Lontoc received the report on the "Pre-feasibility Study for a Bus Rapid Transit System in the Greater Metro Manila Area" from Mr. Jose "Boy" Dulce, Development Assistance Specialist from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Philippines; Ms. Arlene Donaire, Deputy Chief-of-Party of USAID Energy and Clean Air Project (ECAP); Dr. Ricardo Sigua of University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies (UP NCTS) Foundation Inc. and Ms. Sophie Punte, Deputy Executive Director of Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center.

The pre-feasibility study, funded by USAID, was implemented by the UP NCTSFI with inputs from UP NCTS, ECAP and CAI-Asia. Further support was provided by an Inter-Agency Technical Working Group on Bus Rapid Transit (IATWG), comprising representatives from transportation, environment, and energy agencies, chaired by DOTC Director for Transport Planning Service and co-chaired by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The pre-feasibility study originated from BRT briefing meetings in the Philippines organized by CAI-Asia and its local network in the Philippines, Partnership for Clean Air, and the BRT Training Workshop funded by the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in 2005.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Ricardo Sigua
Team leader, BRT pre-feasibility study
University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies Foundation Inc.
UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63(2)923-8305
Email: rsigua@pldtdsl.net

Mr. Rey Goco
Chief-of-Party, Energy and Clean Air Project (ECAP)
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
PA Consulting Group
Unit 2605,Raffles Corporate Center, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63(2)914-1106 local 09 to 08
Email: r_goco@ecap.com.ph