Getting a Move On: The Struggling Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Project
Considering Partnership for Public-Private Partnership in CBRT Project (CBRT stands for Common Station Roofing Project) by DOTr (Department of Transportation).
Looks like the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project is stalled, and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is turning to public-private partnerships (PPP) to ensure it gets done.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon spilled the beans during a chat with reporters, revealing that the project management office of the CBRT might not meet the World Bank-set deadline for the mass transport system project.
This revelation came after a heated exchange with Cebu Provincial Capitol officials on a Wednesday.
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With the loan from the World Bank still on hold and no guarantee that the project will wrap up on time, Dizon sighed, "So we won't be able to finish it for real."
Despite the gloomy outlook, Dizon remains optimistic about the PPP. He expressed confidence that the project, given its importance and the huge number of passengers it will serve, is the perfect candidate for a PPP.
"But the good thing is we feel very strongly that this project, because of its importance and because of the volume of passengers that will be using this system, a PPP is very viable," he said.
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Cebu Provincial Governor Gwendolyn Garcia seems supportive of the PPP idea.
The CBRT project was first proposed in 2014 as an effort to develop a high-capacity bus transit system for Cebu City's congested areas. However, opposing factions have raised issues regarding the original design.
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the first package of the project on February 27, 2023. The package includes the construction of a bus lane on N. Bacalso Avenue, connecting the Cebu South Bus Terminal on Osmenya Boulevard and passing by the Capitol.
With the project embroiled in controversy and delays, Dizon remains noncommittal about a possible completion date, saying changes might be made to streamline the project and make it more viable for future developers.
The World Bank approved a $141 million loan for the CBRT project back in September 2014, but this loan will not be disbursed until September 2026.
- To ensure the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project is completed, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon is pursuing public-private partnerships (PPP).
- Dizon admitted that the project management office of the CBRT might miss the World Bank-set deadline for the mass transport system project.
- Despite the potential delays, Dizon believes the CBRT project would be a good candidate for a PPP due to its importance and the number of passengers it will serve.
- Cebu Provincial Governor Gwendolyn Garcia appears to support the PPP idea for the CBRT project, which was first proposed in 2014 to develop a high-capacity bus transit system for Cebu City's congested areas.
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