Archival sees full completion of CBRT project

Local

CEBU CITY Mayor Nestor Archival remains confident that the long-delayed Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project will move forward as planned.

He said the city will “push through” with its completion despite the World Bank’s warning that it may withdraw funding support for the remaining project packages due to persistent delays.

In a press conference on Monday, October 27, Archival said the city is addressing the issues that have hindered the project’s progress and is committed to completing Package 1, which is already about 90 percent done.

“Ingani ang sitwasyon, naa naman tay certain amount around ₱26 billion. The moment you put in that, ang funder gibutang na gyud nila ang kwarta, and there’s what we call a commitment fee,” Archival explained.

“Now, dugay na kaayo nga panahon…10 years na kapin, and until now wala pa gyud na nato ma-push through. During my time sa akong pagka-konsehal, nangita gyud ko ug way nga ma-push through… karon, mga 100 days na ko kapin, niabot ni nga problema nga niingon ang World Bank nga dugay na kaayo, unya ang DOTr sad nabug-atan na nga mubayad sa inyong commitment fee, so kuhaon, hunungon nalang nato. But it doesn’t mean nga they will not help us.”

Archival clarified that while the World Bank may no longer pursue Packages 2 and 3, the institution has committed to helping the city find alternative financiers to continue the project beyond the first phase.

“The World Bank will still help us find people to connect kung kinsa tong gusto mo-fund,” he said.

The mayor said that Phase 1 of the CBRT, from the Cebu South Bus Terminal to Fuente Osmeña Circle, is almost complete, with only land acquisition for certain sections remaining before the route becomes fully operational.

“Ang atong kulang nalang is acquisition of the land angay nato paliton para makaagi ang atong mga buses,” Archival said. “I asked the Acquisition group sa city nga paspasan ni nato because there’s already money on that. The land we need to buy is basically for Phase 1 until it’s completed. The funds are already there, so we can buy the land now and prepare for Phase 2.”

He added that once the first phase is completed, subsequent phases will move faster since the city will already have the infrastructure and support framework in place.

“The moment mahuman ta sa Phase 1, dali nalang ang Phase 2 kay mangita nalang man ta ug funders. And the World Bank said nga they will help us. This is a good thing for us kay wala tay bayranan sa commitment fee,” the mayor said.

Archival also confirmed that a technical inspection and route validation will be held on October 29, led by a team from Manila, including representatives from the Presidential Security Group (PSG). This will be followed by a dry run on November 5, which will be attended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Me, I’m very positive about it. Kita ka, muari gane ang President,” Archival said. “As mayor, we will really push this because sayang. I know there’s a study that this is workable, makapa-ease sa traffic, and is a good step toward real and good transportation.”

Earlier, the World Bank indicated that it “may no longer” proceed with Packages 2 and 3 of the Cebu BRT unless the government resolves long-standing issues and accelerates the implementation of the ongoing first phase before the loan expires in September 2026.

In a coordination meeting with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Cebu City Government last week, John Richardson, the World Bank’s urban transport specialist, said that while the financial institution remains supportive of Cebu’s mass transport vision, it cannot continue funding stalled components without measurable progress.

The World Bank raised the project’s risk rating to “high” and its implementation progress to “unsatisfactory,” warning that the BRT “will not be able to complete a substantial amount of remaining activities within the current closing date.”

It cited major delays in civil works and road right-of-way (RROW) acquisition, which have hindered progress despite the ₱8 billion allocation for property acquisition under the DOTr.

Archival earlier directed the city’s CBRT team to fast-track property documentation and acquisition, emphasizing that billions in allocated funds remain untapped.

“We need to push this because just imagine, a lot of money is there and we’re not using it,” he said.

The DOTr assured that funds for RROW payments are ready and will be downloaded to the city once documentation is complete. Of 55 affected lots, 31 only require completion of legal documents before full payment can be released.

First proposed in the 1990s, the Cebu BRT is envisioned as the country’s first full bus rapid transit system, stretching 13 kilometers from the South Road Properties (SRP) to the Cebu IT Park, with 17 stations.

Despite a $141-million World Bank loan approved years ago, the project has faced numerous political and technical setbacks, including route redesigns and right-of-way dispute.(TGP)