CBRT expansions faces major roadbock

Local

THE expansion of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) system into the South Road Properties has hit a major roadblock.

The Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Styling has returned the proposed South Road Properties (SRP) loop component of the CBRT project to its proponents.

The panel flagged missing joint venture documents and unresolved legal concerns tied to the multimillion-peso development.

In a committee report received on May 13, the panel recommended that the request from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) be sent back for “information, re-evaluation, and appropriate action.”

The committee is withholding a definitive recommendation pending the submission of the missing supporting documents.

The report was signed by Councilor Mikel Rama, chairman of the committee.

At the center of the issue is the proposed 2.7-kilometer CBRT loop traversing portions of the Cebu City Government (CCG)-Filinvest Land Inc. joint venture property within the SRP.

The DOTr, through Undersecretary for Road Transportation and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor, earlier requested the passage of a City Council resolution approving the development.

The proposed project includes one dedicated lane for BRT buses with four stations from SRP 3 to SRP 6, two mixed-traffic lanes, planting strips, and enhanced sidewalks with drainage and street lighting facilities.

Submitted documents also indicated that portions of the existing roadway would need to be widened to accommodate the transport infrastructure.

While the committee acknowledged that the CBRT project serves public interest and aligns with efforts to establish an integrated and sustainable transportation system in Cebu City, it said the current submission lacks critical documents needed to determine the proposal’s legality and contractual implications.

Foremost among the deficiencies cited was the absence of the joint venture agreement between Cebu City and Filinvest Land Inc.

According to the committee, without the agreement, lawmakers could not fully determine the ownership structure of the affected property, the contractual obligations and limitations of the parties involved, or whether the city government could legally allow modifications or encroachments within the joint venture area without the private partner’s prior consent.

The committee also raised concerns over the possible impairment of contractual obligations under the 1987 Constitution.

“Any governmental approval affecting the JV property without reference to the governing JV Agreement may potentially prejudice vested contractual rights of the parties thereto,” the report stated.

Rama further noted that they could not yet determine whether the proposed approval merely constituted a regulatory act or if it already amounted to a modification of vested property and contractual rights under the joint venture arrangement.

Because of these unresolved issues, the committee recommended withholding further legislative action until the DOTr and other concerned offices submit the required documents and supporting records.

The committee likewise recommended furnishing copies of the report to the Office of the Mayor, the SRP Management Office, and the project proponents for guidance and appropriate administrative action.

The latest development adds another layer of uncertainty to the SRP loop segment of the CBRT project, which has already drawn criticism and heightened scrutiny from city officials.

Earlier, Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña opposed the revised CBRT alignment.

He called the SRP loop a “betrayal of the people of Cebu” for allegedly deviating from the system’s original feeder route concept meant to serve northern and southern communities.

The City Council had previously deferred a “No Objection” resolution over concerns involving the Filinvest joint venture property and compensation issues tied to the affected land.

The proposed SRP loop carries an estimated cost of P2 billion and would affect around 10,223 square meters of land, including portions inside the joint venture area and city-owned properties intended for bus stations.

The DOTr has repeatedly warned that delays in securing local approvals could jeopardize funding for the overall CBRT system, particularly with the World Bank loan financing the project set to expire in September 2026.

Despite the delays, proponents have maintained that the SRP segment is critical to the completion of the larger CBRT network, which aims to modernize Cebu City’s public transportation system and improve mobility across key urban corridors.(TGP)