Cebu City sets 2026 as the commencement year for CBRT Package 1 initiative

Cebu City sets 2026 as the commencement year for CBRT Package 1 initiative

Get Ready to Roll: Cebu's Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Delays, but 2026 Goal Stays Steady

Good news, Cebu dwellers! The Cebu City Government is aiming to kick off operations for the CBRT project's Package 1 in 2026. But buckle up, because it's gonna be a collaboration with a private company for the buses during this initial phase.

Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia dropped this bomb during a radio interview on May 7, 2025. "Let's hope we can start operating Package 1 by next year," he said during an interview with dyHP in Cebuano.

Package 1 Details

Package 1 includes a 2.38 km route, running from the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) on N. Bacalso Ave. to the Cebu Provincial Capitol on Osmenña Blvd.

As for who'll be driving the buses? The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is yet to make that decision. They're the lead agency on this project, after all.

Not One to Go Solo

Garcia admitted it's gonna be a Herculean task for the city to run the buses alone, so a private firm's involvement is a must. "Running a mass transport system? It's way more than what we can handle," he said. So, expect the city to team up with a top-notch mass transportation expert.

Electric Bus Vision

In February, Garcia expressed his interest in integrating electric buses into the CBRT system, modeled after Sweden's public transport system. This interest was sparked after a meeting with the new Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines, Anna Pernilla Ferry.

Sweden, a nordic country, operates an electric BRT system in Gothenburg through the ElectriCity project, a public-private initiative that tests sustainable transport technologies.

As discussions with Swedish officials regarding clean energy and cooperation began in 2022, Garcia remains eager to adopt similar technologies for Cebu City's transit system.

Moving Forward

Originally planned for partial operations in the second quarter of 2024 and full operations in the second quarter of 2025, the project has been delayed. Full operational status is now expected in 2027, with the initial budget of P16.3 billion increasing to P28.78 billion.

That's not all. The entire project, including Package 1 with a 13.18 km main line, 17 stations, a depot, and a terminal, is slated to reach 70-80% completion within the next three years.

Stay tuned for more updates on the potential location for a Station along Escario St., as part of Mayor Garcia's plan to ensure the CBRT station operations continue smoothly.

Keep an eye out for the latest news on the bus operational details, including the involvement of private companies, by checking official announcements from the Cebu City Government or local news outlets.

1. The Cebu City Government, in collaboration with a private company, aims to start operations for the Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Project's Package 1 in 2026.
2. Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia highlighted the involvement of electric vehicles in the CBRT system, citing Sweden's public transport system as a model.
3. Discussions with Swedish officials regarding clean energy and cooperation began in 2022, with Garcia expressing eagerness to adopt similar technologies for Cebu City's transit system.
4. The original schedule for the CBRT project had partial operations in Q2 2024 and full operations in Q2 2025, but due to delays, full operational status is now expected in 2027.
5. The entire CBRT project, including Package 1, is projected to reach 70-80% completion within the next three years, with potential future updates on the location for a Station along Escario St.

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