Passengers asked: Give CBRT dry run a try

CEBU, Philippines — While Package 1 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project is reportedly 99% complete, its dry run has been pushed back to September 17, 2025, during which the city’s top official asked the public to give it a try.

What Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival fears is that the more the CBRT package draws negative impressions, the more it will drive investors away.

In an interview yesterday, Archival said that the city is ready for the CBRT dry run that has been moved to September 17 instead of September 15, 2025.

Archival reiterated that the dry run is a prerequisite to the official commencement which is set on September 25, 2025, as this will determine the hitches that they have to deal with. He said as of this point in time, he was told by the contractor that Package 1 of the project is now 99% complete.

Currently, Archival said the CBRT contractor is just awaiting the arrival of the bollards to be installed on each side to define the route more. He also added that they are still finalizing the number of CIBUS units that will be utilized.

Archival clarified that although what is coming is still a dry run, the buses will begin picking up passengers and simulate its actual operations.

“Being the executive, ako g’yud hopeful ko nga hangupon ni siya…ang ako lang gud, let’s try and according to the studies that this will work,” said Archival.

Archival then urged the public to embrace the positive development in the city, fearing that negative feedback may lead to retracting the loans intended for the other packages of the project.

“The more nga we give this a negative impression, ang naghatag nato, the more nga ma kuan (convince) sila nga kuhaon ang atong part of the money, so mao na akong gikuyawan,” said Archival.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Transportation Office chief Raquel Arce told reporters they were told that there are at least CIBUS 10 units that will be utilized for the dry run.

She added that for the full operation, 17 units were allotted for the CBRT. The CBRT will begin operations from 6 A.M. to 11 P.M., from Il Corso to IT Park.

Arce admitted the dry run will be challenging, as 10 buses will begin plying the streets.

“Unya naa pa g’yud dedicated lane, meaning to say, instead nga gigamit na sa motorista ang maong dalan, bisag way sakyanan, or bisan wa pa ang bus, di g’yud na magamit because it is a dedicated lane for BRT,” said Arce.

She added, this means that the other transport vehicles will be jointly utilizing the outermost lanes of the CBRT route. Arce then stressed that it could potentially add to traffic congestion in the area. — (FREEMAN)