CBRT's Package 1 faces cancellation scheduled for 2026
Let's Get the Show on the Road: The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Project's Package 1
By next year, the City of Cebu is hoping to kickstart the operations of Package 1 for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project. Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia confirmed this during an interview with dyHP Radio on May 7, 2025.
The Package 1, spanning 2.38 kilometers, will run from the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) on N. Bacalso Ave. to the Cebu Provincial Capitol on Osmenña Blvd., with buses serving both the city and a private firm, as per Garcia's statement.
During a phone interview with our Cebu website on May 8, Garcia confirmed that, as of yet, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has not given a decision on who will operate the CBRT buses.
The DOTr took the lead on this project.
Garcia acknowledged the challenges the city faces in managing the operation, which includes the need to partner with an expert in mass transportation.
"Running a mass transport system is a massive task for us as a government. What we are likely to do is collaborate with an expert in mass transportation," Garcia stated.
In February of this year, Garcia expressed interest in electric buses for the CBRT system, similar to the public transportation system in Sweden, during a courtesy visit with the new Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Anna Pernilla Ferry. Sweden operates a BRT system in Gothenburg as part of the ElectriCity project, a public-private initiative.
During the ambassador's visit, various concerns were discussed, including electric bus units, systems for operation, and safety features. Garcia expressed his desire to incorporate such technology in the transit system of Cebu.
The dialogues with Swedish officials began in 2022 during Garcia's term as vice mayor.
The CBRT project was first planned in 2010, with the groundbreaking ceremony taking place in February 2023. The initial plan called for a partial operation to begin in the second quarter of 2024, with full operation slated for the second quarter of this year. However, the project has faced delays and the full operational status is now anticipated in 2027.
The initial budget for the project was estimated at PHP 16.3 billion, which has since risen to PHP 28.78 billion. Package 1 includes a 13.18-kilometer main line with dedicated bus lanes, 17 stations, a depot, and a terminal.
Construction for Package 2 is ongoing, with the entire project expected to be 70-80% complete by the end of the next three years, as per Garcia.
To ensure the operation of the CBRT station, Garcia mentioned considering a potential location along Escario Street for one of the stations. Our Cebu website reported on March 10 that the CBRT project will not include any stations on Osmeña Blvd., to avoid affecting the facade of the building, which was completed in 2008 as a National Historical Landmark and designated as an Important Cultural Property in 2020.
- The Philippines' Department of Transportation (DOTr) has been leading the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, which includes Package 1 that spans 2.38 kilometers from the Cebu South Bus Terminal to the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
- Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia of Cebu has stated that they are likely to collaborate with an expert in mass transportation to manage the operation of the CBRT buses, a task he acknowledges as substantial for the government.
- During discussions with Swedish officials, Garcia expressed interest in incorporating technology used in the public transportation system of Gothenburg, Sweden, such as electric buses, into the transit system of Cebu.
