Megawide bags P1.87 billion contract to build Cavite bus rapid transit

MANILA, Philippines — Infrastructure giant Megawide Construction Corp. has secured the P1.87-billion contract to build Cavite’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) that would improve travel around the province.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Megawide said it has received the notice of award from the provincial government of Cavite to pursue the Cavite BRT project.

Megawide will be joined by Maplecrest Group Inc. in the joint venture tasked to develop the first BRT in Cavite.

Megawide said the notice of award was signed last Dec. 26, 2024, but the builder received a copy just this week. Despite the award, Megawide still has to comply with necessary conditions and submit documentary requirements before it can proceed with construction.

Based on the project sheet, the Cavite BRT System seeks to improve the connectivity among the cities and municipalities in Cavite. It also aims to introduce a new form of public transport in the province that can attract commercial developments near the alignment and stations.

The project is divided into two as proposed by Megawide and Maplecrest: the actual BRT and a point-to-point (P2P) system.

The BRT will traverse Kawit, Imus, General Trias, Tanza and Trece Martires, while the P2P will connect to Metro Manila through the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, which is also run by Megawide.

As pitched, the Cavite BRT System will be developed in two phases, with the first leg spanning 15 kilometers in the BRT alignment and 26.5 kilometers in the P2P segment.

Megawide will build two terminals and 27 stations in the first phase, with operations scheduled to begin by 2026. The second section of the project will add 20 stations in the alignment, linking all the way to the New Cavite Provincial Capitol.

Each of the BRT stations must be able to accommodate at least one bus at any given time. As for the terminals, they must come with two bays each and four transport lanes for feeder lines.

The provincial government of Cavite will contribute to the realization of the project by helping in the acquisition of right-of-way and issuing the necessary permits for construction.

Megawide, for its part, adds another transport project to its portfolio, headlined by the PITX and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, now operated by the Aboitiz Group.