CBRT starts partial operations today

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) begins its partial operation today, Friday (March 13, 2026) without a formal ceremony with at least 17 CeBus units to ply the Il Curso–IT Park route through the dedicated lanes along Osmeña Boulevard.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, in his visit to Cebu last month, confirmed that Package 1 of the project is ready for rollout this March, although Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, a few days earlier than today, spoke of uncertainty on the uncertainty of the launching date.

Archival told reporters earlier this week that the city government had not received notice from the Department of Transportation, which had cited its preference for a launch in the presence of President Marcos.

“Wala gyud ta’y notice ana … Supposedly, we are expecting unta niana sa second week of March, pero duol naman na kaayo,” he said, noting that Malacañang was preoccupied with overseas repatriation concerns.

Despite this, Archival also expressed support for having the partial operation ahead of a formal ceremony, saying Cebu needed to see the system in action.

The rollout today will use Package 1’s completed median lanes along N. Bacalso Avenue and Osmeña Boulevard, which will be closed to general traffic.

 CeBus units alone will be allowed to traverse the corridor, with bollards reinstalled to separate them from mixed traffic. After passing the Cebu South Bus Terminal, buses will rejoin mixed traffic en route to SRP, SM Seaside, and Il Curso.

City Councilor Winston Pepito, chair of the City Council’s transportation committee, welcomed the development and credited President Marcos Jr. for acting on his request to prioritize Cebu’s transport crisis.

“Akong dakong pasalamat sa atong Presidente Marcos Jr., for taking notice of my letter and for taking action on our BRT and transportation crisis,” Pepito said.

He added that coordination meetings with the DOTr’s BRT team from Manila, City Administrator Albert Tan, CCTO Head Raquel Arce, and bus operator Ceres were held to strengthen implementation prior to the start of the operation.

 “Padayon ang atong paningkamot to ensure that this initiative will benefit the commuting public and improve our city’s transport system,” he added.

Pepito told The Freeman yesterday that rides will be momentarily free under the Libreng Sakay program, at least for the initial phase, and said he will personally join today’s run to experience it first-hand.

 “So walay bayranan ang mga tawo diha … Libre ... Ang CeBus dugay na ‘ni siya gabiyahe diha, pero karon mas paspas na kay magamit na nila ang dedicated lane,” he explained.

He emphasized, however, that the ultimate goal is to complete the entire CBRT system.  “Ang ako gyung pangandoy nga maoy akong giingon sa Presidente, nga to make it a national priority nga humanon as soon as possible ang tibuok gyud nga project. Kuyawan nako, mahuman na lang iyang termino, ang BRT wala pa mahuman,” he said.

The CBRT project has been in the pipeline for more than a decade, first conceptualized as a flagship solution to Cebu’s worsening traffic.

It is financed through a World Bank loan approved in 2014, but repeated delays due to political transitions, funding bottlenecks, and right-of-way disputes stalled progress.

 A pilot run was conducted in 2025, yet the full system—envisioned to cover 13 kilometers with multiple stations—remains unfinished.

The World Bank has repeatedly flagged the need for accelerated implementation to avoid lapses in funding as the loan nears expiry in 2026. RAE (CEBU NEWS)