P17-B Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project suffers another delay

CEBU CITY – The implementation of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has suffered another delay.

The BRT, one of the projects eyed to solve the worsening traffic in Metro Cebu, was originally targeted to be implemented in 2016.

But on Monday, Sept. 26, project proponents announced at the Cebu City Mobility Summit 2022 at the Seda Hotel Ayala here they are aiming to launch partial operations within 2023.

“Full operation of the Cebu BRT will be in the second quarter of 2025,” said Engr. Norvin Imbong, officer-in-charge of the Cebu BRT Project Management.

Representatives from the Cebu BRT Project Management Office of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) attended the event.

The P17-billion bus-based project has been delayed several times and was attributed to multiple factors such as changes in design, routes, and road right-of-way (RROW).

Multi-million dollar loans have been secured for the project but only a fraction of these have been utilized.

The Cebu BRT is part of the Metro Cebu Integrated Inter-modal Transportation System (MCIITS).

The MCIITS also includes a cable-car and monorail proposals. The Cebu Integrated Bus Service (CiBUs) was also introduced as a “pre-cursor” to the BRT.

The DOTr started earthballing more than 200 trees in areas on the Cebu BRT’s path in the first half of this year, signaling the start of construction.