ORTIGAS, Mandaluyong City — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced that plans are already being made for the construction of an underground railway system in Cebu to ease traffic congestion that has lately worsened as compared to Metro Manila.

Transportation undersecretary for planning and project development Timothy John Batan made the announcement, saying that there are already discussions since last with Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the provincial government for the construction of the Cebu subway.

Batan disclosed that the subway project was conceived as part of the DOTr's master plan for the province to decongest its roads and encourage the use of public transport.

"It will now go through the feasibility study (and) one of the directions we are taking is the involvement of the provincial government of Cebu so that it can be compatible and appropriate to the needs of the people of Cebu," the transportation official pointed out.

Asked why a subway system is being planned, he explained that unlike in Metro Manila, Cebu has narrow roads, thus making construction of an elevated rail line not feasible.

"Unfortunately, when we looked at Cebu, there is no long and wide road where we can build an elevated railway. That's where the idea (of the Cebu Subway) came from. Actually, the subway is in the master plan for Cebu," he cited.