As loan expiration nears, World Bank urges gov’t to fast-track CBRT project

Local

WITH time running out, the World Bank has urged the Philippine government to repackage and fast-track the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Project before the loan for its first phase expires in 2026.

The recommendation came during a coordination meeting on Friday, Oct. 23, led by World Bank Urban Transport Specialist John Richardson, together with Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, Department of Transportation (DOTr) representative Engr. Norvin Imbong and members of the City Hall CBRT team.

In a Cebu City news report, Richardson said the World Bank is not pursuing Packages 2 and 3 for now, citing long-standing project delays and underutilized funds.

“The World Bank remains ready to support the project, especially if the government intends to complete the entire CBRT system,” Richardson said.

He clarified, however, that the Bank may revisit its support once the implementation of Package 1 proceeds smoothly.

He also recommended exploring a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) setup for future phases to prevent further setbacks.

Package 1 of the CBRT covers the route from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Fuente Osmeña Circle, following the earlier removal of construction work in front of the Capitol Building under former governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The ₱990-million contract is now 91 percent paid, according to the DOTr, after its consultants certified the quality of ongoing construction.

Among the remaining issues are road right-of-way (RROW) acquisition, the Capital Station segment, and other technical complications that have slowed progress.

The DOTr has allocated ₱8 billion for RROW payments, excluding the Mambaling–Bulacao stretch, which falls under another package. The department said the funds will be released to the Cebu City Government once affected property owners complete their documents.

Of the 55 affected lots, including several commercial buildings, 31 only require paperwork completion before payment can proceed.

Archival vowed to complete the remaining acquisitions to ensure the project moves forward.

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

He ordered the City Hall CBRT team to accelerate document processing and submit them to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which will forward them to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for faster payment action.

Despite the challenges, the city government confirmed that Package 1 will begin partial operations on November 5, 2025, marking a milestone for Cebu’s long-delayed BRT system.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will lead the inauguration at the Osmeña Boulevard Station, joined by Mayor Archival, DOTr officials, and Cebu Interim Bus Services (Cibus) representatives.

To prepare for the event, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) will close the CBRT lane along Osmeña Boulevard starting November 3 for setup and security. Personnel from the Presidential Security Group (PSG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will ensure safety during the launch.

Spanning 13 kilometers with 17 stations, the Cebu BRT will connect the South Road Properties (SRP) to the Cebu IT Park—a project decades in the making, first envisioned in the 1990s to untangle Cebu’s worsening traffic congestion.

The CBRT remains one of the largest transport partnerships between the DOTr and the Cebu City Government.(TGP)