President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Monday broke ground to signal the start of the construction of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project – Package 1 in Fuente Osmeña Circle, Cebu City.
“We break ground today to launch an innovative urban passenger transport system that will raise the level of service, safety, and environmental efficiency in this part of the country,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said.
“This P16.3-billion project will bring multiple benefits to residents of Metro Cebu,” he added.
According to Bautista, the 13.18-kilometer Cebu BRT will not only reduce travel time between Cebu’s north and south districts but also boost economic productivity in various communities through the efficient mobility of passengers, goods, and services.
“The project likewise promises to provide better job security and working conditions for the PUV drivers and reduce vehicle and pedestrian accidents” he added.
Package 1 of the Cebu project consists of the construction of 2.38-kilometer segregated bus lane and 1.15 kilometers of pedestrian improvement, from Link to the Port. It will have four bus stations located at the Cebu South Bus Terminal, Cebu Normal University and around Fuente Osmeña Circle and the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
Bautista expects the Cebu BRT to be fully operational by the second quarter of 2025.
The project would not have been possible without the support of the World Bank and the French Development Agency.
The Cebu BRT involves 13.18 km of segregated lanes with 17 stations, 1 depot, and 1 trunk terminal from South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City’s south district to the IT park in the north district.
Around 60,000 passengers will be accommodated each day during its first year of operations. At full operations, the line will cater to around 160,000 passengers per day.
