MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to make sure that those who will be affected by the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project will be justly compensated and relocated.
As he led the groundbreaking of the Package 1 of the P16.307-billion CBRT Project in Cebu City, Marcos assured the public that the project would not only provide greater convenience to the people but will also provide greater opportunities and improve the conditions of current public transport drivers.
“I want to remind the DOTr to ensure the just compensation of the property owners who will be affected by the CBRT Project. I also urge you to find ways to properly relocate the affected informal settler families,” he said in his speech.
The President also commended the transportation department for initiating the country’s first BRT system, saying it would not be possible without their “dedication, hard work, and persistence.”
He said the project is one of his administration’s major projects to provide an affordable, reliable, efficient, and safe public transportation system in Cebu.
Marcos told the DOTr to finish the project within the target completion timeline, saying it would be the “best possible Christmas gift” the government can give Cebuanos.
“I think that if we in fact start operations in December, that will be the best possible Christmas gift that we can give to Cebu,” he said.
According to the DOTr, the partial target operability of the project is set for the fourth quarter of 2023, while full operations are eyed in the second quarter of 2025.
The President also called on Cebu residents to remain patient, acknowledging that “temporary disturbances and interruptions” will be expected during the project’s construction.
He assured residents that the project “has been planned thoroughly and studied” by both Cebu’s national and local governments.
“I trust it will also support economic development through travel time savings, environmental improvements, and reduction of accidents among residents and visitors of the city,” the President said.
Marcos also thanked the World Bank and the French Development Agency for partnering with the Philippine government to make the project possible.
He also assured Filipinos that his administration remains committed to improving economic activities in the country by introducing innovative solutions to public transport and enhancing mobility infrastructure, among others.
“My administration resolutely supports you in exploring ways to improve our public transport systems and in forging partnerships that will help the Philippines keep up with the innovative interventions of other progressive countries,” he said.
The CBRT Project is modeled after the BRT systems in Bogota, Colombia, Curitiba in Brazil, Seoul in South Korea, and Guangzhou in China.
The project involves 13.18 kilometers of segregated lanes with 17 stations, one depot, and one trunk terminal from South Road Properties in Cebu City’s south district to the IT park in the north district.
It also includes a 22.1-kilometer Feeder Line System, which will run over mixed traffic, with two feeder terminals in 76 bus stops across the province of Cebu.
The project aims to improve the overall performance of the urban passenger transport system in a project corridor in Cebu city in terms of quality and level of service, safety, and environmental efficiency.
Around 60,000 passengers will be accommodated daily during its first year of operation. At its full operation, it will cater to about 160,000.
In another development, Marcos took the time to thank the people of Cebu–one of the most vote-rich provinces in the country–for the support during the last elections.
This is Marcos’ first time in Cebu since he became the country’s top executive.
“This is my first time to thank Cebu for supporting me and (Vice President) Inday Sara (Duterte). It was history (in the making), and you were part of that history. And for that, I will always be grateful for the rest of my life,” he said during the launching of the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” market at the Cebu capitol. With reports from Ador Vincent Mayol, Inquirer Visayas
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