Council defers cancellation of BRT annotation at SRP lots

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has put on hold action on a resolution seeking to cancel Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) annotations on parcels of land in the South Road Properties (SRP) after conflicting rulings by the SRP Governing Board were raised.

Instead, the council voted to convene an executive session on February 10, 2026, to clarify the matter with transport officials, Filinvest representatives, the current SRP Board, and the City Treasurer’s Office.

During the latest regular council session, Councilor Paul Labra proposed a resolution recommending the cancellation of annotations on five Transfer Certificates of Title (TCTs) stating that the lots are “subject to a proposed Bus Rapid Transit Road of 22.00 meters wide.”

He said the BRT alignment is only a boundary and does not form part of the properties, which are now registered under Anesy Holdings Corporation, Betterfield Philippines Corporation, Filinvest Land Inc., and Filinvest Alabang Inc.

The measure cited the Local Government Code’s general welfare clause and the SRP Governing Board’s authority under Executive Order No. 49, Series of 2020, to manage the strategic development of the reclaimed area.

Labra initially moved for the approval of his resolution but later amended it to call for an executive session instead, saying other councilors wanted to be enlightened on the matter.

Councilor Joel Garganera, for his part, explained that the amendment was necessary because of contradictory SRP Governing Board resolutions.

“In the resolution issued last April, it states that it's just one of the requirements of the Registry of Deeds that a certification from the SRP Governing Board that the rapid transit or BRT is merely a boundary to and is not part of any of the properties,” said Garganera.

“And then recently, the November SRP Governing board states that it involves properties and in fact, one of the properties that are being mentioned here state that it is sold, that the Cebu City government sold a portion of parcel… So which is which? Garganera added.

He requested that the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Cebu BRT proponent, Engr. Norvin Imbong, be invited to the executive session, along with Filinvest Vice President Louie Henry Carandang or his representative, members of the current SRP Governing Board, and the City Treasurer, to provide details on property valuation.

Garganera also sought certified copies of the TCTs and lot numbers involved, particularly the last pages where notations are made.

The Cebu BRT project, envisioned as the country’s first bus rapid transit system, has long been seen as a transformative solution to Metro Cebu’s traffic woes. Backed by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund, and the French government, the project covers a 13.6-kilometer corridor with 17 stations.

Yet despite its promise, the project has been beset by delays, revisions, and disputes over land use.

Last year, the World Bank flagged its implementation as “unsatisfactory,” raising concerns about its completion by 2026.

The SRP portion of the alignment falls under Phase 2 of the project, which is designed to connect the reclaimed area to Cebu’s business district at IT Park, completing the 13.6-kilometer route.

While the council is seeking to resolve the land issue in SRP, Phase 1 remains unoperational as the city government still awaits the go signal from Malacañang and the Department of Transportation. — /IHM (FREEMAN)