Another promise of comfort and convenience is being realized for the Filipinos, as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., together with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista, led the formal groundbreaking ceremony for the first mass transit system in the Philippines—the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project – Package 1 in Cebu City, yesterday, 27 February 2023.
“We must commend the Department of Transportation for initiating the first Bus Rapid Transit project in the Philippines. My kudos, to you, for breaking ground this project after more than a decade since it was first envisioned. Today, we are finally here to implement this plan and recalibrate the transport system of Metro Cebu,” President Marcos acknowledged during the groundbreaking event.
After more than a decade since it was planned, President Marcos reminds the DOTr to ensure just and proper compensation and relocation to individuals affected by the project, and to finish the CBRT on time.
“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 urged you to find ways and properly relocate the affected informal settler families. On this note, I also take this opportunity, on the DOTr and other stakeholders to finish this project within the target completion timeline”, President Marcos said.
Meanwhile, for Secretary Bautista, the realization of CBRT is the manifestation of the Department’s commitment to fulfill the vision to, “provide equitable access, convenient, comfortable, safe, and secure public transport to Cebuanos”.
He further added, “We hope to see this project fully operational by the second quarter of 2025. This project would not be possible without the financing support of the World Bank and the French Development Agency. Let me also express our gratitude to the Cebu local government for its unequivocal support.”
Indeed, the Cebu BRT project is slated to provide more comfortable and safer travel alternatives to the commuting public and can serve an even greater number of passengers—60,000 daily during its first year of operations, and 160,000 per day when it is fully operational.
Moreover, apart from bolstering the tourism and economy of Cebu and its adjacent areas, it shall also pave the way for the creation of safer roads for pedestrians, and the generation of jobs for our fellow Cebuanos.
CEBU BRT IS ON ITS WAY! MABUHAY, CEBU!
