Ahead of groundbreaking rites: BRT project starts

CEBU, Philippines —  Although the formal ground-breaking ceremony has yet to be finalized, civil works for the long-overdue Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) have already begun, the project’s overseer said.

The ground-breaking was supposed to take place this month but was moved to early February with President Bongbong Marcos’ schedule not allowing him to be in Cebu for the occasion.

The other tentative date set also became untenable after Mayor Michael Rama’s supposed trip abroad.

But with the mayor deciding to forego his foreign trip, it’s the President’s schedule that is waiting to be finalized, considering that he just arrived from Switzerland.

“Until now, wa pa ma-finalize. Nag-istorya si Mayor (Rama) ganina ni Secretary (Jaime) Bautista (of Department of Transportation). He was informed nga i-finalize nila kay bag-o man silang abot gikan Switzerland… I think within the week, we can get the final schedule na,” Cebu BRT project overseer and South Road Properties manager Engr. Bo Varquez told The FREEMAN.

Varquez further said that the civil works for the BRT have already started.

“If you noticed, ang ubang mga tanom, bougainvillea (plants), gipang-remove na. So naa na gyuy lihok,” he said.

Demolition of some parts of the center island is also expected to start already.

“Actually, magsugod na ang demolition sa island kay part man na siya sa project to remove some of the islands sa Osmeña Boulevard,” Varquez said.

Before the term of then DOTr Secretary Art Tugade ended in June of last year, earth-balling of trees along the BRT route had already started.

“Ang formal nga ground-breaking na lang gyud ang gihuwat,” Varquez added.

BRT Loan

Meanwhile, Varquez said the term for the country’s $116-million loan from the World Bank in connection with the implementation of the BRT project in Cebu has been extended to June 30, 2023.

World Bank had approved the loan package on Sept. 26, 2014, with the original closing date on June 30, 2021 but DOTr requested for a two-year extension due to Covid-19 pandemic.

“Naa na siya’y request for extension, especially now nga na-award na, so dili na siya remote nga ma-extend kay naa na ma’y notice of award. Kadtong pag una, naglisod og extend kay wa pa man ma-award kay naa man toy mga hindrances before, but now nga na-settle na ang tanan, na-issue na ang notice of award to proceed, so go na gyud ni nga project nga dugay na natong gihibuwat, go na ni,” said Varquez.

Chinese contractor Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Ltd. won the contract for the Phase 1 of the Cebu BRT project.

The almost P1 billion contract will be for the construction of the BRT infrastructure, including trunklines, sidewalk improvements, stations, and an urban realm enhancement, consisting of a link to the port, along Osmeña Boulevard, among others. – JMD (FREEMAN)