CEBU City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival has expressed doubts over the completion of Package 1 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, which is now scheduled for completion by June 30, 2025.
The incoming mayor said CBRT project manager Norvin Imbong committed to finishing Package 1 by the end of June during their recent discussions.
However, Archival said in a phone interview on Friday, June 6, that he is skeptical that Package 1 will be completed by the end of the month. He will be meeting with the contractor Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Co. Ltd., a Chinese company, on Tuesday, June 10, to discuss the progress of the project.
“Ang paghuman o sa dili mao nay dakong tulubagon sa gobiyerno. But, I doubt kon mahuman…Let’s just give them the benefit of the doubt,” he said.
(Whether or not it gets finished is a major responsibility of the government. But, I doubt it will be finished… Let’s just give them the benefit of the doubt.)
Archival said the people involved in the CBRT project did not disclose specific reasons for the delays.
He warned that if Package 1 is not completed on time, the current contractor will not be selected for the remaining CBRT packages. The first package covers a route spanning 2.38 kilometers from Cebu South Bus Terminal on N. Bacalso Ave. to the Provincial Capitol along Osmeña Blvd.
It forms part of the project’s first phase, which includes a 13.18-kilometer main line with dedicated bus lanes, 17 stations, a depot and a terminal.
March target missed
Last February, Imbong said they expect Package 1 to be completed by March 5, while civil works for Packages 2 and 3 are likely to start between June and July. Apparently, the contractor missed the target.
The original completion date for Package 1 was set for the fourth quarter of 2023. The date was then moved to the first quarter of 2024, and subsequently to the second quarter.
In June 2024, Imbong announced an “indefinite delay” in completing Package 1, explicitly stating that completion might be “until further notice.” This delay was caused by a directive issued by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia halting civil works near Fuente Osmeña and the Capitol building.
The halt stemmed from concerns over heritage protection and compliance with heritage laws, as CBRT bus stations “appear to be located” within the buffer zones of the Capitol building and the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, both of which could easily qualify as heritage zones.
Inspection
Last Thursday, June 5, Archival inspected the Package 1 route. The construction of bus stations and sidewalks along the CBRT route is part of this package. However, Archival found that the sidewalks remained incomplete during his inspection.
“Akong gi-push nga ila gyud nang humanon aron mahuman gyud nang Package 1 (I really pushed for them to finish it so Package 1 would be completed),” he said.
He attributed the delay in sidewalk construction to a lack of workers.
“Tan-aw ko, kon dili na nila butangan og daghang tao, dili gyud na mahuman (It seems to me, if they don’t put more people on it, it won’t be finished),” Archival said.
Once Package 1 is completed, Archival plans to push for a trial run of a bus along the route. He said he would convene the CBRT technical working committee for this purpose.
“Kung naa pay nagtutok ani, mahuman na unta ni gyud nga klaro. Ang ako lang unta, first week of July, makasuway na tag padagan og bus (If there is real focus on this, it would surely be completed. What I really want is for us to try running a bus by the first week of July),” he said.
Archival also mentioned plans to speak with Ceres Bus Liner to deploy a unit for the trial.
Full operations of CBRT are now expected in 2027. The original budget of P16.3 billion has also increased to P28.78 billion. / JPS