BRT phase 1 to affect 22 public utility vehicle routes    

CEBU, Philippines —  A total of 22 different routes in Cebu City will be affected once the first phase of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project is implemented next year.

PUV operators and drivers have been called to a meeting to determine how many operators and drivers will be affected.

Eduardo Montealto Jr., regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7, told The Freeman yesterday that the meeting was called so that the said unit will determine how much financial assistance will be provided for the would-be affected drivers and operators.

“Giklaro lang sa pila gyud ang ma-affected kay naa man uban drivers nga daghan ruta ilang drayban. Inug hatag sa ayuda kay usa ra gyud. Unya naa pud drivers nga operator pud. Kay ang ihatag nga ayuda mag depende na kung moundang ba sila og drive or mobalhin sila og laing ruta,” Montealto said.

Among the routes that may be “highly affected” are 04B (Lahug to Carbon), 04D (Plaza Lahug Housing to Carbon), 04E (Lahug to Magallanes via Escario St.), 04H (Lahug Plaza Housing to Carbon), 17D (Apas to Taboan), 17B (Apas to Carbon), 14C (Capitol to Carbon via Escario St.), and 14D (Ayala to Colon).

Considered moderately-affected routes that pass Osmeña Boulevard are 06B (Guadalupe to Carbon), 06D (Guadalupe Singson to Magallanes), 06F (Guadalupe to Magallanes), 07B (Banawa to Carbon), 07D (Banawa to Magallanes), 15 (Oprra to Carbon), 15A (Oprra to Carbon) and 14B (Oprra to Carbon).

Routes that will be slightly affected will be 06C (Guadalupe to Colon), 06E (Guadalupe to Carbon), 07E (Banawa to Carbon), 07G (Magallanes to Banawa), and 03B (Mabolo to Colon).

 “Once the guideline is out kay ang LTFRB  usa man sa mga signatory, anha pa nato mahibal-an ang final kung pila ang madawat nga ayuda sa mga driver ug operator nga ma affected,” Montealto added.

It can be recalled that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking of the long-overdue Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project last February 27, 2023.

The first phase of the project is slated to be completed in December of this year but incurred some delays and this will be implemented sometime in March next year, Montealto said.

The 2.38-kilometer CBRT Project-Civil Works Package 1 comprises of four bus stations from the Cebu South Bus Terminal up to the Capitol area, along the Osmen~a Boulevard, Cebu City.

President Marcos, in his speech during the groundbreaking, said that the entire CBRT system which comprises three packages is designed to accommodate 83 12-meter buses by its opening year and in the future, this will be increased and expanded to accommodate more and longer buses.

“Apart from the greater convenience that it will bring to our people, I’m sure it will also provide greater opportunities and improve the conditions of our current public transport drivers,” the President said as he assured all the Filipinos that this BRT system has been planned thoroughly and studied by both the national and the local governments of Cebu.

According to the statement released by the Philippine Information Agency-7, the entire project, which costs P16.3 billion, will be fully operational by 2025.

To recall, the CBRT project, which was supposed to be operational by 2018, was approved by the National Economic Development Authority board chaired by former President Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2014.

The BRT is a bus system where segregated lanes are made exclusive for the buses is seen to help ease traffic congestion, provide fast, comfortable and cost-effective mobility and to ease the transportation problem in Cebu City. — JMD (FREEMAN)