Capitol bus station not pushing through

MANILA, Philippines —  After all the waiting, the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit’s (CBRT) bus station area fronting the Cebu Provincial Capitol is expected to be cleared anytime soon.

This came after Gov. Gwen Garcia’s meeting with a World Bank representative yesterday.

CBRT Project Manager Norvin Imbong, in an interview with The Freeman, said they start clearing the unfinished structure, particularly the posts that have been erected for some time already, and finish doing so either today or Monday.

The Cebu provincial government opposed the building of the station in front of the Capitol building for heritage preservation reasons.

Construction of the station was eventually stopped along with its other components, including the beautification of the sidewalk.

Instead of making matters become more complicated and further delay the project, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said in a previous interview with The Freeman that the station fronting the Capitol will be redesigned instead.

Yesterday, Imbong said that once the posts are cleared, the contractor may then proceed with the enhancement of the sidewalk.

The beautification of the sidewalk along Osmen?a Blvd., which includes the installation of bike lanes, streetlights, and paving blocks, as well as curbing of the gutter, already got the Capitol’s nod.

“Basta matangtang na ang mga poste, makasugod na mi og trabaho…. Ang station, mausab na gyud ng dapita,” Imbong said.

He said that the partial operability of the CBRT Package 1 may still happen this year once the segregator is put in place already.

Imbong, though, said that there is no supplier yet for the CBRT buses, so modern PUVs may be used, temporarily.

“Sa Package 1, wala pay supplier sa bus, pero duna may mga bus nga nanagan, kaning mga modern PUVs ug CebuBus…. So, most likely, once nga duna na nay mga segregator ipamutang ..silay mugamit ‘sa,” he said.

Aside from meeting the governor, World Bank representatives also met with Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia, who said it was “very productive.”

“Ganina (yesterday), I had a very productive meeting with the World Bank regarding the BRT…. Naa lang gyud silay mga concerns regarding some issues sa BRT. They said that by 2026 mo-expire na ang ilang agreement with the BRT, mao na they wanted our commitment and our support,” he told a press conference.

Based on the World Bank’s website, the closing date for the country’s loan for the CBRT is September 30, 2026.

“I said, we are committed, and we will support whatever requirements that need to be done for the completion of the BRT,” Mayor Garcia said.

The Freeman learned that the major concern raised by the World Bank to Mayor Garcia was the road right of way for the other areas of the CBRT.

Imbong said, the World Bank representatives emphasized that they do not want anyone to be displaced.-(CEBU NEWS)