Cebu BRT’s 2nd phase package to be awarded in 2024

MANILA  -The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is keen on awarding the second package of the P16.21-billion Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project by next year to meet the deadline for full operations by the first quarter of 2027.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, in a recent interview with reporters, said the detailed engineering design for the Cebu BRT project’s second phase was under development.

This segment covers two routes which are Provincial Capitol to Cebu IT Park and Cebu South Bus Terminal to South Road Properties.

Earlier, the department said it would start the bidding process for the contract this year.

READ: Things to know about the Cebu BRT — the first in the country

Cebu BRT is a bus service with dedicated routes or priority lanes traversing a 13.8-kilometer corridor from South Road Properties through Mambaling up to IT Park.

The public transportation system — which is designed to have 17 bus stations, two terminals and one depot — has a 160,000-passenger capacity once fully operational.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the first package was held on Feb. 27. The first phase includes four bus stations located at Cebu South Bus Terminal, Cebu Normal University and around Fuente Osmeña Circle and Cebu Provincial Capitol.

READ:  Cebu BRT Project-Phase One breaks ground

The contract was awarded to Hunan Road and Bridge Construction, a Chinese contractor, in November 2022.

Bautista said construction for the first phase was ongoing. The contractor has not reported any “major problem,” he noted, hoping that deadlines will be met.

“The project is scheduled for partial operations by fourth quarter this year and full operation by first quarter of 2027,” the transport chief added.