Despite Cebu City’s narrow roads: World Bank says BRT is viable

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is still “technically viable” in addressing the traffic problem in Cebu City.

This is the assessment of the World Bank following a nine-day mission here.

The city’s narrow roads are among the major concerns of the project’s critics.

“The May 15-23 joint Bank-AFD mission concluded that the project as designed is technically viable and that moving forward will allow to optimize the project design,” reads a portion of the World Bank’s Implementation Status and Results Report posted on its website on Monday.

The World Bank maintained its position that the full implementation of the project will improve the traffic management and organization of public transportation in Cebu.

The fate of the project hangs in the balance after Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Presidential Assistant for Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino asked the National Economic Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee to scrap the BRT because of the city’s narrow roads, among other reasons.

The World Bank pointed out that the NEDA Board took into consideration of Cebu City’s narrow roads when it approved the project on May 29, 2014.

Last year, the NEDA ICC also reviewed the project when DOTr requested for additional budget to acquire the road right of way.

“The project is in its fourth year of implementation and is still suffering from significant delays. Before January, the main concern was the lack of decision and significant delays in the procurement of key consultants that were expected to help complete the design of the BRT system and strengthen DOTr capacity to successfully implement the project,” the report reads.

The World Bank also stated that the DOT’rs failure to mobilize the Technical Support Consultant, Social Management Consultants, and the PPP transaction adviser affected the procurement of civil works for the project.

Hiring of these consultants would prevent further delays.

“Since January 2018, the project has been put on hold by DOTr following concerns about its viability given narrow streets and increased congestion in Cebu. A technical review is currently being undertaken by DOTr and a decision by the Government on the project is expected by end-June 2018. The project continues to benefit from strong support at city level,” the report reads.

With how things are going, the World Bank estimates the project to be completed by October 2010. Originally, it was targeted to be completed by 2017.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña welcomed the report.

“I’ve done everything within my power, and I will do whatever is left in my power, to the last ounce of energy that I have. But I have to tell the Cebuanos, if that’s not good enough, I’m sorry,” the mayor told reporters.

“All I can give is assurance that I will use every bit of influence, energy that I can to get it, but if the government will not give it, then we lose,” he added.

The World Bank report states that the progress towards achievement of BRT’s project development objectives downgraded from moderately satisfactory to moderately unsatisfactory.

City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete said the downgraded rating reflects the status of the implementation of the project.

Osmeña agrees.

“It’s scary. You see the product of the people working against us. You know that,” he said.

DOTr has until June 30 to submit “robust evidence” to support the cancellation of the BRT project.

The World Bank said it will respect the decision of the Philippine government on the matter. (FREEMAN)