After DOTR Gives 10% advance payment: BRT work continues

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has practically averted what would have been a work-stoppage of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, after it was able to meet the Chinese contractor’s demand for advance payment.

Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Co., the package 1 contractor, had earlier demanded and threatened to stop its construction work unless they get their 10 percent advance payment of its P900 million-plus contract.

The DOTr was given until yesterday to release the amount, and was able to beat it before the deadline, CBRT Project Manager, Engr. Norvin Imbong, told The FREEMAN yesterday.

Imbong could not tell when exactly the payment was made, but said it was done within this week.

So far, the contractor has done about 23 percent of the dedicated lanes under package 1.

Package 1 covers 2.38 kilometers of segregated bus lane with four bus stations and a 1.15-kilometer pedestrian improvement.

While stoppage of work had been prevented, the DOTr is currently waiting for the demolition permit from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) as well as from the barangay before it can proceed in taking out the two skywalks along Osmena Boulevard.

“Gi-apply pa ug permit for demolition, but gitrabaho na ni ron,” Imbong said.

Securing the necessary permit would take some time as they still had to seek a council resolution about the demolition, since they just learned that the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH), the Commission on Audit (COA), and even the Department of Interior and Local Government had no records on the two skywalks.

Imbong explained the skywalk near the Department of Health and that of the Cebu Normal University have to go, as it will no longer serve its purpose.

“Kung naay station unya ang mga tawo makalabang na kay tangtangon man ng island, ma-useless na gyud siya,” said Imbong.

The stairs also hinder the sidewalk, so it must be cleared to give pedestrians some ease in crossing and going to one of its stations.

A grid crossing will be placed to properly guide the pedestrians.

“Mao nay giingon ba nga ang design sauna, dili na necessary nga applicable na sa karon,” said Imbong. – GAN (FREEMAN)