RDC endorses funding of Baguio-Benguet train line

By Joseph Zambrano

BAGUIO CITY-- The Cordillera Regional Development Council has approved a resolution endorsing funding of feasibility study of Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) system in this city and neighboring Benguet towns to the National Economic Development Authority central office.

The RDC saw the need for a full-blown study to accurately prove that the AGT system in the Baguio Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) growth area is a viable investment for potential investors.

The NEDA regional office earlier conducted evaluation of the pre-feasibility study on the AGT for Baguio and La Trinidad on request of the Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST-CAR).

The pre-feasibility study which was funded by DOST-CAR was completed by the Traffic and Transport Planners, Inc. in October 2015.

        The study entitled “Study on the Feasibility of Deploying DOST-Developed Mass Transport Transportation Technologies in Baguio City and Benguet (La Trinidad)” looked into the possibility of deploying the AGT system technology that features an electric, driverless, fully automated guide way transit system running on an elevated monorail and rubber tires in both sites. 

NEDA-CAR’s evaluation of the pre-feasibility study revealed that there is still a need for a more in-depth financial and economic analysis and detailed engineering design. Thus the proposal to conduct full blown feasibility study for said project.

The DOST has certified that the AGT is an environmentally-friendly and sustainable transport technology that could significantly reduce air pollution and traffic congestions between Baguio and La Trinidad and provide an integrated and efficient transport network between and among BLISTT municipalities.

The AGT system project has been included as a priority development project under the revalidated Regional Development Investment Plan (RDIP) for the period 2014-2016 so it could qualify for the feasibility study funding support from the NEDA central office, among other funding agencies, it was learned.

The 5.2-kilometer La Trinidad to City Limit component of the monorail project has a total cost of around P4 billion while the 2.1-kilometer Baguio section of the project from the Slaughterhouse Compound up to the Lunette Hill area is estimated to cost P3 billion.