NEDA approves bus rapid transit system for Cebu

Proposed Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System Plan / Wikipedia Photo

CEBU — Former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña proponent of the bus rapid transit (BRT) project said the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has finally approved their proof of concept for Metro Cebu.

Over 176 buses will be running through bus-ways which links Cebu’s South Road Property from Bulacao to Talamban in Cebu City.

Osmeña said the BRT will revamp Cebu’s entire transportation system and eventually provide Cebuanos an affordable and faster means of transportation.

“It will definitely solve the traffic problem of Cebu City,” Osmeña said.

The project, which will start in 2015, targets to serve a total of 330,000 passengers a day traversing Cebu City’s business districts, shopping areas, key tourist, and residential sites.

Engineer Nigel Paul Villarete, chairman of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority and who was also among the project study team, said that they are now waiting for the detailed engineering works to be available in order to finally start the project construction.

Approving the proof of concept is a good sign that the public bidding for the contract will soon be starting.

The BRT system, which is based on a 2012 feasibility study, will have a total project cost of P9.079 billion or US$212 million.

A total capital or physical cost of P6.

694 billion or US$156 million, resettlement and land acquisition of P1.044 billion or US$25 million and project management and coordination cost of P1.337 billion or US$31 million were included in the project’s cost breakdown.