The Department of Transportation (DOTr) of the Philippines has awarded a contract to China-based Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Company Limited for the construction of the first alignment of the Cebu bus rapid transit (BRT) project. The contractor will apply for working permits, building permits, excavation and hauling permits, and underground installation permits. The contractor will comply with all the required documents during December 2022 and is expected to commence construction in January 2023.
The first phase of the Cebu BRT project is a one-year contract worth PHP1 billion, funded by the World Bank and the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD). The contract has two major components. The first component is the construction of the BRT infrastructure, including trunklines, sidewalk improvement, stations, and other appurtenances, from the Cebu Capitol to the existing South bus terminal. The second component is the urban realm enhancement consisting of a link to the port along Osmeña Boulevard.
The project was originally targeted to be implemented in 2016, but has been delayed several times due to factors such as changes in design, changes in routes, and problems in road right-of-way acquisition.