Cebu BRT project to start January 2023

CEBU, Philippines —  Civil works for the long-overdue Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project’s phase 1 are expected to finally start in January 2023 after the Notice of Award to the winning bidder is set to be given this week.

Package 1 of the Cebu BRT project is expected to immediately proceed since there will no longer be any road widening or property acquisition in this portion of the 2.3-kilometer project.

Civil works for Package 1 include the construction of four bus stations, including those at Cebu South Bus Terminal, Cebu Normal University, near Fuente Osmeña Circle, and near the Provincial Capitol.

Mayor Michael Rama personally visited Department of Transportation (DOTr ) Secretary Jaime Bautista in Manila last week. The latter assured the former that the BRT project will be realized.

Bautista said the project is expected to start in early 2023.

“The mayor’s visit apparently triggered Guia’s (Engr. Benedicto Guia Jr., manager of DOTr’s National BRT Program Management Office) reciprocal visit to update him on the status of the long-overdue project,” a report from the City’s Public Information Office said.

Guia told Rama that DOTr had already chosen the winning bidder to undertake Package 1 from the Capitol through Osmeña Blvd. and going to Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) on N. Bacalso Ave, but the name of the winning bidder had not been disclosed yet.

DOTr accordingly has also received a letter of no objection from the World Bank, which financed the project, in order to push through with awarding the winning bidder.

“So, we already received that (letter) and they (World Bank) are instructing us to award the project already,” Guia said.

With this, DOTr is expected to formally issue the Notice of Award to the winning bidder this week.

After that, the winning contractor will be asked to comply with all requirements to “perfect” the contract, Guia added.

Once the contract is “perfected”, a Notice to Proceed will then be given by DOTr to the contractor.

“In my estimate, they (contractor) should mobilize by January,” said Guia.

Rama was pleased with the development, saying that people will soon see actual works related to the BRT project which he has pushed for several years already.

“I’m glad that this thing is now in motion,” he said.

The mayor then instructed his executive secretary, Atty. Collin Rosell, to coordinate with the BRT Project Implementation Office in order to provide support during the eventual rollout. – JMD (FREEMAN)