CEBU, Philippines — To avoid further delays, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said they are looking at redesigning the stations of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project fronting the Cebu Capitol building.
Bautista, in an interview with The Freeman yesterday on the sidelights of the 59th Conference of the Directors General of Civil Aviation of the Asia and Pacific Regions at Dusit Thani Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City, said phase 1 of the CBRT project should already be done within this year.
Phase 1 of the CBRT has been ongoing but part of the project, specifically the one fronting the Cebu Provincial Capitol, has been halted earlier this year following Governor Gwen Garcia’s cease and desist order on the construction of the CBRT along Osmeña Boulevard, citing potential heritage law violations.
During the groundbreaking of the long-overdue project on February 27, 2023, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. wanted to have the BRT partially operational by December of the same year “as a gift to the Cebuanos.”
However, some kinks concerning construction permits, the removal of the skywalk, and contract with the Chinese contractor–Hunan Road and Bridge Construction group, hindered the construction work from going full blast.
DOTR was then looking at its partial operations in the second quarter of this year, but the project was then caught with the Capitol’s opposition.
“Merong isang portion dun na nagkaroon ng konting problema sa harap ng Capitol,” said Bautista, as he disclosed their decision to redesign instead.
On the other hand, even with the plan to redesign, Bautista is confident that phase 1 will finish this year since the contractor has already shifted focus on the other portion of phase 1.
“Actually, matatapos na yung phase 1…It will be operational within the year yung phase 1,” Bautista said.
“Pero even with the redesigning, we will be able to start operations,” Bautista confirmed, as national reports have noted that DOTr is already opening the bidding of phase 2 and 3 of the said project.
Phase 1 covers a 2.38-kilometer segregated bus lane and 1.15 km. of pedestrian improvement from Link to the Port, and with four bus stations located at Cebu South Bus Terminal, Cebu Normal University and around Fuente Osmeña Circle and Cebu Provincial Capitol area while phase 2A includes the South Road Properties (SRP) to Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) area and Capitol to IT Park segments, along with a bus depot. Phase 3A includes building bus stops along Mambaling to Talisay, SRP to Talisay, IT Park to Talamban and a feeder bus terminal.
While partial operation is expected this year, the full operation of the country’s first BRT project is expected to be realized in 2027. — (FREEMAN)