Yogi opposes BRT project but won't scrap it if elected as Cebu City mayor

Local

FORMER Bureau of Customs commissioner Yogi Ruiz criticized the long-delayed Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, calling it outdated and unfit for the current transportation needs of Cebu City.

During the campaign kickoff held in Cebu City with his North and South District councilor slates, Ruiz said the CBRT’s concept may have worked in the past, but it no longer aligns with the city's fast-changing urban landscape.

As he officially launched his mayoral campaign on Friday, March 28, he said the city needs a modern and efficient transport system that discourages private vehicle use and helps reduce traffic congestion.

He cited the monorail system as a better option for Cebu, saying it is more suitable in terms of speed, efficiency, and space-saving infrastructure.

Ruiz said that if elected mayor, he would push for a monorail system instead of expanding the existing BRT network.

While he expressed strong disapproval of the CBRT, he clarified that he would not scrap the project outright, noting that billions of pesos have already been spent.

However, he said he would not extend it to other parts of the city once the current scope is completed.

Bus rapid

The CBRT was approved in 2014 as a solution to Metro Cebu’s worsening traffic congestion. It is the first of its kind in the Philippines, modeled after successful BRT systems in Latin America and parts of Asia.

The project has a total estimated cost of over P16 billion, funded by a $116 million loan from the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a $25 million grant from the Clean Technology Fund, and a $30 million counterpart from the Philippine government.

In 2022, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) also committed €50.89 million (about $57.5 million) in additional financing.

Construction delays, right-of-way issues, and procurement setbacks have pushed back the implementation schedule.

The Department of Transportation initially targeted partial operation by 2021, but this has been moved multiple times.

As of early 2024, the World Bank proposed a restructuring of the project, with a revised loan closing date set for September 30, 2026. The BRT is now expected to become fully operational by 2027.

Carbon market

Ruiz also took a firm stance on the issue of the Carbon Public Market redevelopment, expressing opposition to its privatization.

He emphasized that while he is in favor of modernizing public spaces and facilities, he does not support transferring management to private entities.

He said the Carbon Market should remain under the control of the city government to protect long-time vendors and ensure that the space remains accessible and affordable for ordinary Cebuanos.

In 2021, the Cebu City Government entered into a P5.5-billion joint venture with Megawide Construction Corporation to modernize the Carbon Market.

The agreement grants Megawide a 50-year partnership to develop the area into a commercial and cultural district, complete with transport terminals and parks.

While the project has moved forward, it has faced criticism from vendors and opposition groups.

A petition filed by former mayor Tomas Osmeña to stop the project was dismissed by the court due to procedural defects.

Better alternative

Ruiz, a former regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA 7), is running under Partido Cebuano.

He is making his first attempt at public office and is branding himself as a “better alternative” in the Cebu City mayoral race.

He referenced the success of reform-oriented mayors like Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in Manila, Vico Sotto in Pasig, and Benjamin Magalong in Baguio City, saying new leadership has led to genuine transformation in those cities.

His campaign lineup includes Ren Ranche, Clarissa Larry Otadoy, and Niceforo Iroy for the North District, and Susan Jaca Berido, Omar Kintanar, Bonel Balingit, Renil Oliva, Arlene Salahuddin, Vic Buendia, and Emman Maranga for the South District.(MyTVCebu)