CEBU CITY, July 8 (PIA) -- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade is eyeing the partial operability of the Integrated Intermodal Transport System (IITS) in Cebu before the last quarter of 2021.

Tugade was in Cebu July 6 for a site visit and ocular inspection of the proposed Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Alignment and Transport Network Integration here.

DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade (3rd from left) and OPAV Sec. Michael Dino (2nd from left) discussing the timeline of the Integrated Intermodal Transport System (IITS) in Cebu prior to the site visit and ocular inspection July 6. (PIA-7)

Tugade, together with Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Secretary Michael Dino, visited the area in IT Park which is eyed as the Common Station for all three modes of transport under IITS, namely: BRT, monorail system, and the cable car system.

He said DOTr will be working closely together with the project stakeholders to ensure partial operability of the IITS before the fourth quarter of 2021.

"Completion of the project might take two or three more years pa, but we want the people of Cebu to start experiencing the comfort of having an integrated intermodal system," said Tugade.

He added that the project is "long overdue" and the President has instructed him to make sure that the people of Cebu "will enjoy the comfort of an integrated intermodal system."

Prior to the site visit, the DOTr chief sat down with the project consultants to agree on the timelines as he gave the consultant three months to submit the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) plan.



Under the IITS, the whole stretch of Osmeña Boulevard - from Capitol Area to Port Area covering three kilometres - will be part of the Urban Realm Revitalization Plan where bikeways, greenways, and a BRT dedicated lane will be installed.

Dino, in a statement, said the IITS will improve transportation in Cebu. "I am also very excited with the Cebu Integrated Inter-Modal Transport System that will boost the Cebuano's mobility," he said.

DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade (2nd from left) meeting with Cebu-based award-winning designer Kenneth Cobonpue (center) who was chosen by the DOTr chief to lead the design of the IITC Common Station. (contributed photo)

After the ocular inspection, Tugade and Dino met with award-winning Cebuano industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue who was handpicked by the DOTr chief to lead the design of the branding, aesthetics, cycling lane, walkways, and urban revitalisation of the IITS Common Station. (rmn)