Cebu City willing to provide storage space for dismantled CBRT project structures

Local

THE Cebu City Government has offered a solution to one of the pressing issues stalling the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project.

Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced plans to use a space at the South Road Properties (SRP) where steel structures from a bus station slated for dismantling near the Cebu Provincial Capitol can be stored.

This proposal responds to heritage law concerns and follows a request from her aunt Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who had earlier ordered a halt to the station’s construction.

The stop-work order stemmed from fears that the bus station, located along Osmeña Boulevard, could violate the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 due to its proximity to the Capitol, a historic site.

CBRT project manager Engineer Norvin Imbong then verbally sought temporary storage for the dismantled materials from the city, a request soon to be formalized in writing.

Mayor Garcia pointed out that the disassembled materials, including steel frames designed for a distinctive leaf-inspired roof, could be utilized in the upcoming phases of the CBRT project, particularly in Packages 2 and 3.

Despite this temporary setback, he indicated there had been no talks about altering the station’s design to align with the Capitol's heritage aesthetics.

The matter was not discussed in recent meetings with the World Bank, which is financing the project.

Public dissatisfaction has intensified as delays persist, with residents voicing their frustrations online. Many criticized the perceived misuse of taxpayer money and the traffic disruptions caused by stalled construction.

Urban planner Nigel Paul Villarete, who contributed to the CBRT’s early planning under former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, highlighted that the project’s original focus was on optimizing transport efficiency rather than aesthetics.

He emphasized that the main objective was to reduce walking distances for commuters and provide effective public transport services.

Villarete noted that while the design elements of the bus stations were secondary, any adjustments or halts should be justifiable to the Commission on Audit (COA) due to the use of public funds.

Following the governor's cease and desist order, construction activities along Osmeña Boulevard were halted, and the CBRT team started the process of securing necessary permits from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), as required by the National Cultural Heritage Act.

While awaiting approval, project manager Imbong mentioned that the dismantled materials would temporarily be stored at the Fuente station until the SRP site is ready.

The Cebu City Government's involvement goes beyond providing storage; it also oversees land acquisitions for road rights-of-way and manages the resettlement of residents displaced by the project.

However, the city’s resettlement plan has faced scrutiny from an ad hoc committee of the Cebu City Council.

Concerns were raised about potential irregularities, as all proposed resettlement lots were owned by a single corporation.

Mayor Garcia is currently awaiting the council's report and has pledged to respect their findings. He stressed the importance of expediting the resettlement process to keep the CBRT project on track, particularly given the impending expiration of the World Bank-funded loan agreement in June 2026.(MyTVCebu)