By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY — Chinese engineers and geologists will be arriving on Jan. 31 to study Iloilo’s capacity to host a monorail system.
This August 2017 file photo shows Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (2nd from left) and Liu Xueliang (2nd from right), general manager of Chinese firm BYD Auto Industry Co. Ltd., showing a copy of the agreement inked to conduct a feasibility study for a monorail system. They are joined by Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III and BYD Senior Regional Manager Benjamin Zhao. (Tara Yap|Manila Bulletin)
The Chinese firm BYD Auto Industry Co. Ltd. recently presented the findings of its pre-feasibility study conducted last year to Iloilo City government under Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
Ritchel Gavan, chief of the Iloilo City Local Economic Investment and Promotions Office, disclosed that BYD found the city to be capable of having a monorail system.
BYD is planning to create a monorail system that will run from Iloilo City to the towns of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara, where the Iloilo International Airport is located.
If it pushes though, the monorail will help decongest road traffic in the regional capital of Western Visayas.
Gavan told Manila Bulletin that the proposed monorail system is a two-phase project. The first phase will be in Iloilo City while the second phase will connect Iloilo City to the airport.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said BYD officials also discussed its monorail proposal with Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.