CEBU CITY, Cebu, Feb. 27 (PIA) -- President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the country’s first Bus Rapid Transit, the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Project- Package 1, today, Feb. 27.
The president led the lowering of the time capsule along with Department of Transportation Sec. Jaime Bautista, Speaker of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
The CBRT is one of the government's flagship infrastructure projects that is designed to enhance the overall performance of the urban passenger transport system in the province of Cebu.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. along with Department of Transportation Sec. Jaime Bautista, Speaker of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez, and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia lead the lowering of time capsule as part of the groundbreaking ceremomy of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project - Package 1 held at Fuent Osmena Circle, Cebu City on Feb. 27, 2022. (PIA7)
Phase 1 consists of four BRT stations, namely: the Capitol Station, Fuente Station, Cebu Normal University (CNU) station, and CSBT station, traversing from N. Bacalso Ave. corner Osmena Blvd. to Plaza Independencia.
This is expected to be fully operational by the second quarter of 2025.
In his speech, Pres. Marcos said that the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit will provide a more efficient, reliable, and safer public transportation system that will transform into a comfortable life for every Filipino, especially the Cebuanos.
"I assure all Filipinos that this BRT system has been planned and studied thoroughly by the local and national governments. Aside from the greater convenience that it will bring to the people, it will also provide better opportunities and travel experiences to commuters and drivers in the province of Cebu," said the president.
With the construction of the CBRT, the president lauded the DOTr for initiating the first bus rapid transit project in the Philippines.
He assured all Filipinos that the national government is committed to improving economic activities in all parts of the country by creating more innovative infrastructure projects.
He also urged the local government of Cebu to search for ways on how to properly relocate the informal settlers that will be affected by the construction of the project.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his speech during the ceremonial groundbreaking of the first mass transit system in Cebu City and the first BRT in the country, the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT), held at Fuente Osmena Circle, Cebu City on Feb. 27, 2022 (PIA7)
The said project involves three packages with a total of 13.18 kilometers of segregated lanes that cover 17 stations, one depot, and one trunk terminal starting from the South Road Properties (SRP) to the IT park in Cebu City.
The project cost amounts to P16.307 billion as approved by the National Economic Development Authority in 2017.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Fuente Osmena Circle in Cebu City and was attended by officials of the DOTr, Cebu local government officials, public and private stakeholders, and project contractors. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
