BRT dedicated lanes now 22 percent complete

CEBU, Philippines — Dedicated lanes for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Package 1 are now 22-percent complete, according to project manager Engr. Norvin Ymbong.

Ymbong told The Freeman the status of the ongoing project amid threats from the contractor, Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Ltd., to stop the construction works by June 15 if the Department of Transportation (DOTr) still fails to release the 10 percent of its total contract price as mobilization fund.

Ymbong said that the dedicated lanes are just a part of Package 1of the project. The package has other components like the 1.15 kilometer road enhancement from the corner of P. del Rosario to Plaza Independencia.

The dedicated lanes will be 2.38 kilometers long spanning from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Capitol. The lanes can accommodate more or less 80 units of buses. Package one has a total budget of more than P900 million.

The Chinese contractor started the construction works in February immediately after the groundbreaking. However, the contractor recently informed the DOTr and the city government that it will stop its construction works if mobilization fund will not be released by June 15. Ymbong said the check is already due for signature.

Executive Session

The threat from the BRT contractor has prompted Councilor Rey Gealon to file a resolution before the City Council seeking to invite the officials of DOTr and the contractor for an executive session.

Gealon wants the DOTr and the contractor to apprise the members of the City Council on the issue of the non-payment of mobilization fund.

“This poses a huge problem as it will halt the construction works done for the CBRT, which will be an inconvenience to the commuting public since the construction works will go on longer than the original plan of finishing it by the end of December this year,” reads an excerpt of Gealon’s resolution.

Meanwhile, members of the committee on lot acquisition for the CBRT project of Cebu City government met yesterday for a special meeting. The Freeman tried to cover the meeting but was not allowed to. — (FREEMAN)