Cable Cars won't work in Philippine cities
In Hong Kong they actually use cable cars to get people across mountainous areas, although it was mostly for tourism. In Latin America and China, the same technology are catching up fast as an actual mode of mass transportation. Are we ready for cable cars in urban cities in the Philippines? Not likely. We currently do not have laws for "air rights" which would be needed to secure the space above private properties and let the cables through. Otherwise, the lines would have to follow along existing roads thus defeating the whole point of a cable car system in NCR or in any major city for that matter.
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| GONDOLAS ON ZIP-LINES: A cable car tower of Ngong Ping 360 (formerly Tung Chung Cable Car Project), Lantau Island, Hong Kong, 2017. This route ferries tourists to popular destinations in the area: The Big Buddha, Ngong Ping Village and Disneyland Hong Kong. |
The proposal to use cable cars as a solution for traffic congestion was introduced by former DOTr Sec. Tugade and Sen. Grace Poe in the previous Duterte administration. Sen. Robinhood Padilla reiterated the suggestion this week in the session. In fairness to the idea, cable cars are flood-free, quieter and cheaper, and also require less time and resources to build. On the downside: the ride may be scenic for the commuter, but transecting across barangays ang buildings will make the structures an eyesore and unsafe for everyone else below.
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| MEET-UP AT THE MALL: The Harbour Front Tower in Singapore has a cable car station at the top floors. VivoCity Mall-goers can access it to reach tourist spots Sentosa island across the sea or Mt. Faber behind. In theory you could put cable car stations through sky-scrappers. In reality, the logistics alone would be problematic. |
A cable car system would deeply benefit the agriculture sector though, and best of all our tourism industry. Imagine cable cars in Baguio or Bukidnon, or across islands in Panglao, Mactan, and Samal. Sen. Robinhood has his heart in the right place, but he needs better advisers.
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