Abalos calls for subway blueprints for Cebu City and other urban centers
Senatorial aspirant Benhur Abalos waves to supporters as he leads a motorcade through the streets of Cebu City
MANILA, Philippines – Senatorial aspirant Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. led a motorcade through Cebu City, drawing strong support from locals as he hailed both the city and the entire province as a key economic driver of the country.
Abalos also met with various local leaders and members of the business community to solidify his presence in Cebu, one of the Philippines’ most vote-rich provinces.
Benhur Abalos receives warm welcome from Cebuanos who witnessed his motorcade yesterday
“I’m so proud of Cebu. One of the economic drivers of our country is Cebu,” Abalos said,. “Makikita po yan sa airport niyo—one of the busiest in the Philippines sa dami ng mga turista at sa dami ng mga negosyo.”
More Cebuanos went out of their homes to greet Abalos
“It’s always with deep pride na nasa Cebu ako dahil natutuwa ako the way it’s being managed. So always, congratulations Cebu, napakagaling talaga na Cebu,” he added.
Abalos laid out some of his legislative agenda such as reducing the value-added tax (VAT) on electricity, expanding affordable housing, and providing direct assistance to farmers.
A staunch advocate for housing, Abalos highlighted his experience as former mayor of Mandaluyong, where he spearheaded the construction of 7,700 housing units for informal settlers. His housing project provided permanent homes to families living along railway tracks, ensuring they were relocated safely and with dignity.
For the agricultural sector, Abalos vowed to expand government support for farmers, real property tax (RPT) discount for farmers, and scholarship for children of farmers and fisherfolk.
Abalos also stressed the importance of long-term planning for Cebu’s transportation system to address the worsening traffic congestion.
“Let’s learn from the experiences of Metro Manila. We need to plan ahead and implement solutions to prevent severe traffic congestion. Traffic in Cebu is already becoming as bad as it is in Manila. In other countries like Japan and Hong Kong, efficient mass transportation—particularly subways and trains—plays a crucial role in keeping cities moving. It’s all about mass transportation,” he explained.
Abalos urged Cebu to begin planning for a subway system, similar to what is being developed in Metro Manila. “There’s a study by the different international organizations about how much is lost every day due to traffic—gasolina mo, oras mo—ang laki ng pera,” he said, citing, for instance, a JICA study that revealed that traffic congestion in Metro Manila alone costs the Philippine economy at least P3.5 billion per day, amounting to a staggering 1.27 trillion annually.
“I suggest that as early as now, magkaroon ng blueprint for a subway. Hindi lang dito sa metro areas, including Cebu. Napaka-importante po nito for the future generation,” he said.
While acknowledging the high cost of subway infrastructure, he emphasized its long-term benefits. “Alam ko, magastos ito, pero come to think about it, kung iba-balance mo ang perang i-aallot mo, talagang it’s worth it,” he said.
Abalos expressed serious concern over the ruling’s far-reaching impact, warning that it threatens not only the livelihoods of small-scale fisherfolk but also the preservation and long-term sustainability of marine biodiversity.
“The Fisheries Code can be amended to address the specific issues raised by the Supreme Court,” Abalos said. “This would involve revising the definitions and regulations on municipal waters and clarifying the rights and access of different fishing sectors,” Abalos, a lawyer and former DILG secretary, said.
